BRUSSELS, October 21 (RIA Novosti) – Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak and EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger are holding a bilateral meeting before three-way gas talks with Ukraine scheduled later for the day, a representative for Russian Energy Ministry told the press Tuesday.
"A bilateral meeting [is being held] now," the official said, commenting on the minister's schedule.
Russia-Ukraine-EU talks on Ukraine’s gas crisis will be held later on October 21 in Brussels. Earlier in the day, Novak said he expects the meeting to result in a written agreement on the gas issue.
According to the Russian Energy Ministry, the Russian and Ukrainian leaders reached a preliminary agreement on Kiev's repayment of its gas debt to Russia during talks in Milan last week. Ukraine is to pay $1.45 billion of the debt in October and another $1.65 billion by the end of 2014. The parties also agreed on the temporary price of $385 per 1,000 cubic meters for the winter season.
