Russian President Vladimir Putin makes a televised statement
Russian President Vladimir Putin makes a televised statement at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, in the early hours of July 21, 2014. Putin said on Monday the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in east Ukraine must not be used for political ends and urged separatists to allow international experts access to the crash site. Reuters

As winter is approaching, the European Union is eyeing Russian supply of gas without interruption, despite hostilities over Ukraine. The European Union's Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger made an appeal to Russia not to use gas supplies as a weapon in its standoff with Ukraine. The EU Energy Commissioner also advocated against any sanctions on Russian gas sector in the name of Ukrainian crisis, reported AFP and Tass.

Oettinger told the 12th Energy Community's session in Kiev that he was against sanctions because reliable energy supplies should not be used as political tools. He referred to the snapped gas supply to Ukraine by Russia. The gas supply to Ukraine was stopped in June after Ukraine refused to accept a higher price demanded by Moscow after an agitation that ousted a pro-Russia president in Ukraine in the earlier part of 2014. However, Ukraine still serves as a transit for Russian gas to the European clients. But EU nations are anxious that the Kiev will dip into their supplies once the winter heating season starts.

Berlin Meeting

Tass reported that the European Union will strive for a compromise with Russia to get sustained Russian gas supplies at market prices. Brussels will also try to be pragmatic with the Russian partners. Accordingly, Russia, Ukraine and the European Union will hold a trilateral gas meeting in Berlin on Sept 26. The earlier meet held in May among Oettinger, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak and Ukrainian Minister Yuriy Prodan had failed. Later, Ukraine's Naftogaz and Russia's Gazprom filed mutual claims at the Stockholm Arbitration Tribunal. Ukraine has been struggling to manage its demand through reverse flow purchases from countries like Slovakia which resell the gas they purchase from Russia. But reselling nations fear a Russian lawsuit.

Supply to EU

Russia supplies one-third of the total gas needs of EU through the Soviet-era pipelines and the latest Nord Stream link under the Baltic Sea. Ukraine transports half of the Russian gas for many European nations, including Italy. Russia is in the process of constructing a South Stream link to bypass Ukraine and supply gas directly to southern European states.