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EU offered Ukraine and the RF to reach the agreement on gas, without the Stockholm court

According to the eurocommissioner on power, it is necessary to make the intermediate decision this winter

© EPA/Sergey Chirikov

MINSK, August 27, /ITAR-TASS/. The European Union (EU) has suggested "reaching an intermediate agreement on gas" between Ukraine and Russia, without waiting for rulings of the Stockholm arbitration court, Guenther Oettinger, EU Commissioner on Energy, said at the close of talks with the Ukrainian president.

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Putin stated he had reached agreement with Poroshenko on resumption of energy dialogue

The Contact Group on Ukraine must resume its work as soon as possible, Russia's President Vladimir Putin stated at the close of his meeting with Ukrsinian President Pyotr Poroshenko.

"In this connection, agreement has been reached that the Contact Group must resume its work as quickly as possible," Putin said. He assured that Russia would do everything for that. "The process must be started as quickly as possible," Russia's Head of State emphasized.

On the whole, when speaking of his meeting with Poroshenko, Putin said the discussion dealt with the entire spectrum of Russia-Ukraine relations, including economic interaction, the situation in the country's south-east, the need to put an earliest end to the bloodshed, and the need tor a political settlement of the entire set of problems.

Putin: Ukraine, by its lawsuit filed with the Stockholm arbitration court , has deprived Russia of the possibility of granting privileges on gas price

Russian President said gas-related issues between Russia and Ukraine "are in a deadlock". "The secret is small Gazprom upped and made an advance payment for the transit of Russia's gas to Europe while Ukraine's petroleum joint-stock company upped and returned the advance payment. So, the transit of our gas to European users proved suspended in the air. What will be next in this respect?" Russia's Head of State queried. The President's opinion is that the return of the funds for transit "is the matter that awaits a meticulous researcher as represented by our partners European and Ukrainian".

"We fully abide by all the terms of the contract," Putin emphasized. "We even may not accept certain privilege-granting proposals because Ukraine applied to the Court of Arbitration. Any our privilege-granting actions may be made use of in court," Putin pointed out.

He said Russia and Ukraine had got a lot of specific matters which must be resolved. Both Russia, U kraine, and the European Union are interested in a solution to them. "This is what prompted us to hold a five-sided meeting," the Russian Head of State said in conclusion.

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Russian finance ministry considering abolition of export duty on gold

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Ukraine struggles to garner support for Swiss conference — Russian Foreign Ministry

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Israel considering retaliatory steps following Iranian attack — top brass

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US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Joe Biden had made it clear that the United States would not take on a combat role in Ukraine

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Ukrainian Baba Yaga drone found in Moscow office

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Yury Borisov noted that SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket was used no more than ten times

US continues to foment new conflicts to save itself from default — Duma speaker

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Georgian protesters end rally in Tbilisi over foreign agents bill

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Kiev recognizes Russia's tenfold superiority in artillery shells

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US, UK strikes harm Yemeni settlement prospects — Russian mission to UN

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Iran has warned US that Israeli response would set off harsh retaliation — minister

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Japan concerned over Russia-China military cooperation — Foreign Ministry

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Russian forces pummel Ukrainian army, equipment in 133 areas over past day

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Russia’s UN envoy says IAEA too cautious as it doesn’t name culprit behind attacks on ZNPP

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Russia’s UN envoy says statements by West expose Kiev’s responsibility for attacks on ZNPP

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Iranian president warns of 'terrible response' to any action against country

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Ukrainian paratroopers surrender in Avdeyevka area — Russian Defense Ministry

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Putin expresses hope for constraint in Middle East in conversation with Raisi

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Russian Armed Forces hit IRIS-T air defense system launcher, Ukrainian ammunition depot

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FSB prevents terror attack on Trans-Siberian Railway

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IAEA chief slams attack on ZNPP dome as 'very dangerous precedent'

Rafael Grossi calls for attacks on ZNPP to stop as they raise safety risks

Israel remains on highest alert as it chooses response to Iran’s attack — senior commander

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