Reuters: Ukraine, Slovak authorities still in gas-link talks

Ukrainian and Slovak authorities are in "very constructive negotiations" and could sign a reverse-flow pipeline deal next week to curb Ukraine's dependence on Russian gas, officials from Kiev and Brussels said.

European Commission officials and Ukraine's energy minister said earlier this month a deal to ship gas through Slovakia was all but agreed and just needed to be signed by both sides.

Since then, Kiev has said it is not ready to sign a broader deal with Europe called the Eastern Partnership, a four-year-old programme of outreach to former Soviet states.

But officials said the pipeline agreement was still possible, which would mean that companies can change the destination of Russian gas intended for the EU.

"We are discussing all details in a bid to sign next week," Ukrainian Energy Minister Eduard Stavytsky told Reuters in Vilnius.

The first shipment of gas from Europe via the Slovak link could take place in the second half of next year, he added.  MORE