ITAR-TASS: Ukraine’s siphoning of Russian gas for Europe possible, Russia's Energy Minister says

Cases of Ukraine’s unsanctioned siphoning of Russian natural gas intended for European countries and supplied via the territory of Ukraine are possible ahead of the heating season, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Friday.

“The situation is highly critical ahead of the heating season,” Novak told journalists following his meeting in Moscow on Friday with EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger.

Oettinger arrived in Moscow on Friday for gas talks with Russia. The commissioner was scheduled to hold talks with Russian Energy Minister Novak and Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller to try to find a solution to the Russia-Ukraine gas price dispute.

The commissioner’s spokesperson, Marlene Holzner, earlier said that Oettinger would present the European Commission’s new proposals on a gas compromise between Russia and Ukraine as part of preparations for resuming ministerial gas talks between Moscow, Kiev and EU officials.
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