MOSCOW, June 23 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s Energy Ministry has received no official offer on the renewal of trilateral gas talks between Russia, Ukraine and the European Commission, and Russia’s stance on the issue remains unchanged, a representative of the ministry told RIA Novosti Monday.
“The Russian Ministry of Energy has received no official offer,” the source said, adding that the Russian side would only agree to continue the negotiations once Ukraine clears its gas debt.
Earlier in the day, Naftogaz CEO Andriy Kobolev announced Ukraine was hoping to resume gas talks in July, suggesting the possible date of negotiations was currently being agreed upon with the European Commission.
Russia and Ukraine have been trying to break the deadlock over Kiev’s debt payments and gas pricing for weeks. The previous round of talks mediated by European Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger ended with no compromise in sight.
On June 16, Russia was forced to switch to a prepayment system for Russian gas deliveries to Ukraine, due to Naftogaz’ non-payment of its debt to Gazprom.
