Reverse gas supplies from European countries to Ukraine are possible only if contracts are not violated, Guenther Oettinger, European Commission Vice President, told at a press conference following the trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the EU in Berlin.

He said if, for example, Gazprom and Slovakia had a gas transit contract, then no reverse was possible there.

Gazprom does have a long-term contract to reserve capacity for gas transit via the Slovakia gas pipeline.

Oettinger said, though, that where Gazprom has no right to make operational decisions, reverse supplies are possible from a legal point of view.

He also said reverse supplies had not been discussed at today's talks.