Oettinger upbeat about chances for gas agreements between Russia, Ukraine and EC

17:35, 26.09.2014 1 min read

Gunther Oettinger, European Commission vice president, said he was very confident of understandings being reached between Russia, Ukraine and the EC.

He told a press conference the sides had drafted a very good "winter package" at talks in Berlin on Friday and he was confident the project would win the support of Moscow and Kyiv, and that there as a very good chance they would endorse it.

He said he had witnessed an unswerving but constructive approach by the partners not just today, but at the talks in general in recent weeks.

It is in everybody's interests to avoid a gas shortage, he said.

If the winter package is not approved, a repeat of January 2009 is possible, he said.