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Another Russia-EU round of gas talks to might be held on July 17-18 in Moscow

The Russian side planned to discuss the South Stream project, Alexander Novak said

HAVANA, July 12 /ITAR-TASS/. Another Russia-European Union meeting on problems of gas supplies to Europe and gas transit via Ukraine may be held on July 17-18, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told journalists on Friday.

“The exact date has not yet been appointed. Most likely, it will take place on July 17 or 18,” he said, adding that the meeting would be held in Moscow.

When asked whether issues of the South Stream project would be raised at this meeting, Novak said that the Russian side planned to discuss this project. “We do have such plans,” he stressed.

Trilateral gas talks between EU, Russia and Ukraine

Earlier, Oettinger said after talks with Ukrainian parliament-appointed Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yury Prodan that the European Commission hopes for resumption of three-party gas talks with the Russian Federation and Ukraine by the end of July.

Oettinger did not specify if Ukraine is ready to start paying off its gas debt to Gazprom that Moscow had been expecting during six rounds of three-party talks from May 2 to June 16, when they were deadlocked.

In turn, Prodan then told Russian journalists that Ukraine “is ready to discuss at the talks only an intermediate package proposal of the European Commission” on the price and debt settlement, saying Kiev’s position regarding the debt remained unchanged.

“We will repay the debt as soon as an agreement on the price is reached,” Prodan said. “Should no agreement be reached, the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce will put the final period.”