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Berlin admits Germany will need Russian gas in the medium term

German Minister of State for Europe Michael Roth has called provision of gas transit across the territory of Ukraine an important priority for Germany

BERLIN, November 10. /TASS/. The European Union should ensure that the gas transit corridor through Ukraine should remain for a long term, German Minister of State for Europe Michael Roth said at a conference on the energy union on Thursday.

"The long-term provision of the gas transit across the territory of Ukraine, as well as the expansion of cooperation with other supplier states are important priorities for us," he said.

Russia will keep its role of an important gas supplier for the European Union, Roth said.

"We in Germany proceed from the fact that in the medium-term perspective we’ll need Russian gas," he said.

"But we understand the political fears of our partners in Europe and perceive them seriously," he added.