EU official: debt for past gas deliveries remains problem for Russia-Ukraine gas deal
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A top European Union official says Ukraine's debt for gas Russia delivered between November and May remains a hurdle to reaching a deal on energy supplies between the two countries.
EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger says Russia's state-owned gas company, Gazprom, is willing to discuss a new gas price for Ukraine on condition the country pays its existing debts first.
Oettinger says Ukraine wants to talk first about a new market-based price for gas and would only then be willing to pay its outstanding bills.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}He said Tuesday that negotiators have been trying to convince Ukraine to pay part of the debt so the talks can start.
The prospect of a possible cutoff in gas supplies to Ukraine has worried EU countries that receive Russian gas piped through the country.