European Commissioner for Energy

By Eleni Varvitsioti

After meeting with Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, European Commissioner for Energy Guenther Oettinger said on Wednesday that the two men had discussed the “important role that Greece will play in the European gas strategy,” as Brussels prepares its strategy for the European Union’s energy autonomy, which will include stress tests for member states.

Ukrainian Economy Minister Yuriy Prodan said "no progress" had been registered in negotiations with Russia over Kiev's debt for gas supplies.

EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger has suggested he sees no risk of Russian gas supplies to Europe being affected by potential sanctions over the events in Ukraine.

Ukraine has gas reserves which could suffice for three-months supplies to Europe, the country's Energy Minister Yuriy Prodan said.

He told the Bulgarian National Radio that, in case of halting supplies to Ukrainian end users, Europe's energy delieveries will be guaranteed until June.

Ukraine will temporarily stop buying Russian gas until the price issue is settled, the country's Energy Minister Yuriy Prodan announced Wednesday.

Prodan said that Kiev was not satisfied with the sum it has to pay from April 1 this year, as ITAR-TASS agency quoted him as saying.