MOSCOW, October 31 (RIA Novosti) — EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger is hopeful that the agreement on Russian gas supplies to Ukraine reached on Thursday will eventually lead to a thaw in Kiev-Moscow relations.
"Now we have made a step in a different direction, a step (away) from the escalation and intensification of the conflict and towards its de-escalation and confidence building. Perhaps now, based on the agreement reached, further steps could be taken towards the regulation of relations between the neighboring countries, towards their normalization," Oettinger stated in an interview with the German radio station Deutschlandfunk.
On Thursday, Russia, Ukraine and the European Commission signed a tripartite protocol to fix arrangements for a winter package plan ensuring gas deliveries to Ukraine until March.
On Thursday, Russia, Ukraine and the European Commission signed a long-awaited deal securing gas deliveries to Ukraine for the winter months. The agreement stipulates that Russia resumes gas supplies to Ukraine, following a three-month break in deliveries caused by Kiev's massive gas debt in excess of $5 billion. In turn, Ukraine must pay $3.1 billion of its debt to Russia by the end of 2014.
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak stated Friday that yesterday's agreement is not legally binding. He said that it is a declaration of intent reached as a result of the trilateral talks.
