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Russia, Ukraine agree on gas deal

BRUSSELS, March 3 (KUNA) -- Russia and Ukraine have bridged differences over gas supply till March following EU-brokered talks in Brussels last night.
"I am satisfied that we managed to safeguard the full application of the Winter Package for the supply needs in Ukraine. I am reassured that the supply of gas to the EU markets remains secure," European Commission Vice-President for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic said in a statement after talks with Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak and Ukrainian Minister for Energy and Coal Industries, Vladimir Demchyshyn.
The Winter Package deal expires on March 31st and Russia last week had threatened to cut gas supplies to Ukraine and instead deliver it to the rebel-held areas of Eastern Ukraine after Ukraine cut gas deliveries to that area.
On her part, EU High Representative Federica Mogherini underlined in a statement the outcome of yesterday's meeting on energy issues that can help bridge differences over the supply of gas between Ukraine and Russia.
"These efforts are part of the concrete support of the European Union to the implementation of the Minsk Agreements." Under the deal, the Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz will pre-pay and order from the Russian energy company Gazprom sufficient quantities of gas to cover all domestic consumption by Ukraine in March.
Naftogaz will continue to guarantee an undisrupted transit of gas to the EU. Gazprom will deliver up to 114 mcm per day of pre-paid and ordered gas quantities to mutually agreed delivery points. The parties acknowledged that the issue of supplies to certain areas of Donetsk and Lugansk in Eastern Ukraine regions is highly complex in legal, technical and political terms. This issue will be further discussed.
The Parties have also stated their willingness to continue their trilateral talks in order to agree on the follow up to the gas Winter Package.
The European Commission invited the Parties to submit their proposals for possible agenda points for the next trilateral meeting. On this basis the European Commission will propose a draft agenda and invite the Parties to a meeting before the end of March. (end) nk.gta