Ukraine, Russia and the European Union have signed a legally binding protocol that ensures gas supplies for the period up to the end of March 2015, an Interfax correspondent reported from the signing ceremony.

The document carries the signatures of Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak, his Ukrainian counterpart Yuriy Prodan and European Commissioner for Energy Guenther Oettinger in presence of European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

Apart from that, Russian gas giant Gazprom and Naftogaz of Ukraine signed an additional agreement to their gas supply contract. It was signed by Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller and Naftogaz of Ukraine chief Andriy Kobolev.