The European Union has expressed deep concern regarding the unilateral increase of gas prices applied to Ukraine and expressed a firm conviction that all differences of views on the price and conditions of gas supplies should be solved through negotiations, according to the conclusions of the Council of the European Union approved on Monday in Luxemburg by Foreign Ministers of the European Union.

"The Council expresses deep concern regarding the unilateral increase of gas prices applied to Ukraine and expresses a firm conviction that all differences of views on the price and conditions of gas supplies should be solved through negotiations and available legal mechanisms, with a view to stabilizing the economic situation in Ukraine," reads the document.

"Energy relations must be based on reciprocity, transparency, fairness, non-discrimination, openness to competition and continued cooperation to ensure a level playing field for the safe and secure supply of energy," the Council said.

"The Council confirms the EU's readiness to explore ways to assist Ukraine in securing its energy supply through further diversification, including through the rapid enhancement of reverse flow capacities, enhanced energy efficiency, and effective interconnections with and within the European Union. Such assistance must be combined with Ukraine's efforts to reform and modernise its energy sector, in line with Ukraine's commitments in the Energy Community Treaty," reads the report.