Oettinger Proposes New Round of Negotiations on October 21

Ukraine, Russia and the European Union are likely to meet in Berlin on October 21, with the hope of clinching an interim gas deal. 

Naftogaz and Ukraine confirmed their intention to take part in the next round of negotiations with Russia and the European Union. Nonetheless, the Kiev-based company made clear that it will oppose the Russian proposal to reach an agreement without a signature from Gazprom.

‘Naftogaz is surprised, however, by comments from Russia on the proposal that Gazprom should not be a signatory of the binding deal. A core part of these negotiations is to produce a legal contract that is fair for all parties, and most importantly, signed on commercial rather than political grounds,’ the company wrote on Thursday evening. 

The company said that without a signature from Gazprom, the deal cannot be reached.

All in all, though, the political climate seems more positive also in relation to the situation in Eastern Ukraine. 

Indeed, the pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian authorities reportedly signed an agreement to create a buffer zone.