MOSCOW, October 3. /TASS/. The date of the next tripartite meeting on the Ukrainian gas problem will be determined after October 7, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told TASS on Friday.

“At present, in compliance with the agreements reached in Berlin on September 26, the protocol is being coordinated. The date of the next meeting will be determined after October 7,” he said.

Earlier, Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yuri Prodan said Ukraine was ready to hold talks with Russia to resolve the gas pricing dispute.

Asked whether the Ukrainian side was interested in holding another trilateral gas meeting with Russia and the European Union, the minister said: “We are ready to meet even tomorrow. We should hold talks and search for compromise solutions.”

The European Commission said on Wednesday it was still working on setting a date for further talks with Ukraine and Russia to tackle the dispute over Kiev's unpaid gas bill.

Previous round of talks

During the previous round of talks held in Berlin on September 26, Russia, the European Union and Ukraine prepared a new package agreement to settle the gas problem, due to be submitted for approval to the countries’ governments.

EU Commissioner for Energy Guenther Oettinger voiced the core of this new agreement: Ukraine is to pay $3.1 billion to settle its outstanding debt to Gazprom for the delivered gas. The Russian company is to supply 5 billion cubic meters of gas to Ukraine and give an option for another 5 billion cubic metres at a price of $385 per 1,000 cubic metres due to a $100 discount provided for a period of six months.

Gazprom is to supply at least 5 billion cubic meters to Ukraine after it has paid $2 billion on the old debt. Deliveries will be mandatory for both sides.