Ukraine, Russia, EU to Discuss Summer Package on March 20

Ukraine said that it will held negotiation with Europe and Russia to discuss the summer package, adding that the country should store as much gas as possible over the next months to get ready for the coming winter.

“I believe on March 20 there will be held negotiations with our European partners with participation of Russia to reach accord on the supply of natural gas during the summer period," the Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk, said in a note released on Wednesday.

The supply deal for the winter will expire at the end of March.

On Wednesday, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told Reuters that Kiev could pay gas on the current levels, or even less, depending on the negotiations.

"A discount is possible under the contract as well. No separate (summer) packages are needed if Ukraine and Russia reach an agreement. Take-or-pay (suspension)... is also possible, it depends on the talks between companies," Novak was reported as saying. 

The Russian Energy Minister said Kiev could benefit from better conditions, if Kiev will agree on paying for the gas Gazprom will supply to Luhansk, and Donetsk. 

Russia and Ukraine took part to the trilateral meeting in Brussels on March 2. 

“I am reassured that the supply of gas to the EU markets remains secure” Vice-President Mr Maroš Šefčovič commented on that occasion, explaining that supply to the rebel-held areas are ‘highly complex in legal, technical and political terms.’

After that, a crisis was averted on Friday, when Naftogaz paid $15 million for gas supplies till March 15.