MINSK, August 26. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia will not change its position on key issues at a meeting on gas transit with the EU scheduled for August 29, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Tuesday.

“The situation remained unchanged as compared with June 16 after the switch to a prepayment system for gas deliveries,” Novak told ITAR-TASS.

The minister said the meeting would be held in Moscow. “We will discuss issues concerning our energy cooperation and energy dialogue, including mutual relations on gas transit through Ukraine, reliable gas supplies, the construction of South Stream [gas pipeline] and the expansion of access to the capacity of OPAL pipeline,” he said.

Novak cited experts’ data proving that Ukraine “could not survive without Russian gas”.