European Commission Vice-President for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic has called for re-launching the trilateral format of negotiations on gas between the European Commission, Ukraine, and Russia.

"In the past, this forum has proven its usefulness: it is better for all to sit down together around one table. Russia as an exporter, Ukraine as a transit country and the EU as the main importer share a common interest of predictability. The trilateral format remains the most suitable for discussing gas supplies for the upcoming winter heating season," the European Commission Delegation in Kyiv quoted Sefcovic as saying in a statement on Thursday.

Apart from visiting Kyiv on September 2, Sefcovic also intends to meet with Russian officials, it said.

Sefcovic welcomed the Ukrainian government's decision on unbundling Naftogaz.

"It is now important to implement this decision swiftly and consistently in the months ahead. In parallel, Ukraine's potential in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy is huge: Would the country manage to increase its energy efficiency levels to the EU average level, the savings achieved would be greater than the energy consumption of Spain over a whole year. Ukraine could thus even become an exporter of energy! The European Commission is prepared to support the establishment of the corresponding Energy Efficiency Fund before the end of this year," he said.

Naftogaz head Andriy Kobolev had said earlier that Ukraine would buy gas from Gazprom in the third quarter on the condition that an additional agreement to the existing contract is signed, which should invalidate the 'take or pay' provision and stipulate parameters of gas off-take, payment, nomination, and delivery points.