BRUSSELS, October 29 (RIA Novosti) — The long-awaited outcome of gas talks in the Russia-Ukraine-EU format is likely to be announced Thursday morning, as the talks in Brussels will continue late into the night, the European Commission said Wednesday.
"The press conference, slated for today, has been postponed. Negotiations are still underway, and will most likely continue until late in the evening," EC said in a statement.
According to the statement, the joint press point is expected at around 08.30 a.m. Brussels time (07:30 GMT).
Russia and Ukraine are holding the final round of talks, mediated by the European Commission, to find an interim solution to the standoff over Ukraine's unpaid gas bills and the price Kiev will pay for Russian gas supplies during the upcoming winter.
The gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine became especially acute when Gazprom switched Kiev to a prepayment system for gas supplies in June over Ukraine's gas debt of more than $5 billion.
In September, Russia and the European Commission proposed the so-called winter package, according to which Ukraine should pay $3.1 billion of its debt to Russia by the end of the year in exchange for gas deliveries during the winter period.
Following the trilateral Russia-Ukraine-EU talks in Brussels on October 21, Ukraine agreed to the temporary price of $385 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas during the winter months.
