Russia, Ukraine, and the European Union are set to resume talks aimed at restoring Russian gas supplies to Ukraine, the Russian energy minister has said.
Aleksandr Novak told reporters in Moscow on September 24 that the talks would start the next day in Brussels. "We will be finally agreeing to the text of the protocol," he said.
Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a standoff over gas since a pro-Western uprising ousted ex-President Viktor Yanukovych and took control of Kyiv last year.
In July, Russian gas giant Gazprom halted gas supplies to Ukraine after the breakdown of talks between Moscow and Kyiv.
Recent weeks have seen fresh attempts to resolve the conflict with the approach of winter, when demand for gas in Ukraine and Europe will rise.
Ukraine transports 15 percent of gas consumed in Europe, and its reserves are running low since Gazprom turned off the tap.
Russian and European officials on September 11 appeared to reach a tentative deal to end the gas dispute, with the EU providing Ukraine $500 million to buy Russian gas so that it can replenish its reserves and ensure uninterrupted gas transit.
