EU Commission Hopes Russia-Ukraine Gas Supplies Issue to Be Solved in April

The Vice President of the European Commission expressed hope that a temporary decision on the gas supplies from Russia to Ukraine would be reached in April during a new round of trilateral talks.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – A temporary decision on the issue of gas supplies from Russia to Ukraine could be made as early as in April, Maros Sefcovic, Vice President of the European Commission, in charge of Energy Union, has told RIA Novosti.

"We maintain constant communication with the Russian and Ukrainian sides and I hope that in April we will be able to find a solution that will satisfy all parties," Sefcovic said.

The European Union, Russia and Ukraine will hold a new round of trilateral gas talks on April 13-14 in Berlin.

Ukraine is currently paying $329 per 1,000 cubic meters of Russian gas as part of a deal, brokered by the European Commission last year, to secure gas deliveries to Ukraine during the peak winter season.

The agreement, dubbed "winter package," is due to expire on March 31, 2015. On Friday, Ukrainian Energy Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn announced that Ukraine had proposed to extend the winter package beyond the expiration date.

Speaking to reporters after a round of trilateral gas talks, Demchyshyn also said that Kiev expected the price for Russian gas to be around $250 per 1,000 cubic meters in the second quarter of 2015, considering a $100 discount, while the price in the third and fourth quarters "could be even less."

Meanwhile Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak announced on Friday that Russia will decide on the possibility of a gas price discount for Ukraine by the end of March.

Novak added that the discount could cover deliveries in the second quarter and would be reviewed every subsequent quarter due to price volatility on global markets.

The current gas discount for Ukraine under the winter package is valid until April 1.