Signs of progress in EU, Ukraine, Russia gas talks
Hopes of a breakthrough rose yesterday as the EU opened the latest round of talks aimed at persuading Russia to resume gas deliveries to war-torn Ukraine in time for winter.
The EU-brokered talks in Brussels came as Kiev said pro-Moscow rebels killed another seven of its soldiers in eastern Ukraine and Russia vowed to recognise elections organised by separatist rebels in the region on Sunday.
Against a broader backdrop of geopolitical tensions, Nato warned it was "vigilant" in the face of increased Russian military activity in European airspace earlier this week.
Following an inconclusive marathon round overnight Wednesday, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said he hoped to sign the gas deal with Ukraine later on Thursday as he returned to Brussels for the talks.
"We hope that today all our agreements will be formalised with the signing of the necessary documents," Novak was quoted as saying by the RIA Novosti news agency.
EU officials said a deal was close even though talks stalled before dawn on Thursday when Russia demanded that the European Union first agree with Ukraine how to pay Kiev's outstanding bills and finance gas deliveries through to March 2015.
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