European Parliament President Martin Schulz has called on Russia to reach a long-term agreement with Ukraine concerning natural gas supplies.

The trilateral gas talks broke down this week, Schulz said in the Ukrainian parliament on Friday.

The European Parliament calls on Russia to immediately return to the negotiating table, he said, adding that it is necessary to look for a long-term solution, which would help prevent similar disruptions in the future and would ensure the security of gas shipments to Europe and Ukraine.