Russia, Ukraine Reach Tentative Agreement On Gas Deliveries

Russia and Ukraine made a progress in reaching an agreement on the gas supplies row, reports Reuters.

European leaders, however, said Moscow has to significantly increase its efforts to support the ceasefire agreement in eastern Ukraine.

The deal aims at re-opening Russian gas supplies to Ukraine ahead of the cold winter months.

It came as something of a surprise following an initial round of talks in Milan described by Kremlin officials as "full of misunderstandings and disagreements".

Later Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said a subsequent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the leaders of France and Germany had made some progress in resolving the issues.

"We have the first limited progress on the gas issue. We have agreed on the main parameters of the contract," he said, adding that all sides remain committed to a ceasefire deal struck last month to stop the hostilities in eastern Ukraine.

He also said that he hoped all details to be further discussed before October 21, when delegations of Russia, Ukraine and the European Commission are due to meet in Brussels.

According to Putin, all parameters of the deal were already discussed and settled and urged the European countries to help Ukraine cover its gas debt to Russia, which was estimated at USD 4.5 B.

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