EU, Russian officials hold meet in Berlin

Brussels, May 20 (IANS) Officials from the European Union(EU) and Russia met in Berlin Monday to help in preparing the ground for a second trilateral meeting between the EU, Russia and Ukraine, an EU statement said.

European Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger met Russian Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak to discuss issues relating to security of gas supply and transit from Russia via Ukraine to the EU, Xinhua quoted the statement as saying.

The trilateral meet is scheduled for May 26, subject to confirmation by all parties involved, with Berlin as a possible venue, the statement said.

The aim of the trilateral meetings is to ensure continued gas supplies and transit.

Concerns about the outstanding debt of Ukraine and the gas price for supplies to Ukraine are being discussed in the trilateral format in order to find a solution by the end of May.