Kremlin agrees to trilateral gas talk schedule

MOSCOW, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- The Kremlin said Friday it agreed on a date for the next round of talks aimed at resolving a Ukrainian gas issue endangering European energy security.

"The Russian side has agreed to the proposed date of three-party talks in the Russia-Ukraine-EU format to discuss uninterrupted transit of gas via the territory of Ukraine," the Russian Energy Ministry said. "The new round of talks will take place Oct. 21 in Berlin."

Ukraine under an interim deal would pay the $3.1 billion it owes Russian energy Gazprom. Ukraine, in return, would get a price discount and assurances of adequate winter natural gas supplies.

Russia sends most of its gas for European consumers through the Soviet-era transit network in Ukraine. Contractual disputes in 2006 and 2009 between Kiev and Gazprom resulted in brief gas shortages in Europe, and ongoing crises in eastern Ukraine have exposed the European community to additional energy risks.

The World Bank and United Nations issued separate statements this week saying the gas issue was having secondary impacts on Ukraine's economy and its people.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said resolving the issue rests with a Ukrainian government the Kremlin sees as hesitant to broker a deal. Ukraine, for its part, has said past efforts to resolve the issue were part of a political ploy by Moscow.

Western governments have issued sanctions against the Russian energy sector in response to the Kremlin's actions in eastern Ukrainian conflicts.