European Parliament suggests helping Ukraine in gas talks with Russia

A European Parliament draft resolution suggests that the European Union could help Ukraine in negotiating the conditions of Russian gas shipments to bring them in compliance with EU trade standards.

This is stated in a motion for a European Parliament resolution containing the parliament's recommendations to the Council, the Commission and the (European External Action Service) EEAS on the negotiations on the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.

The document will be put on vote at a European Parliament session on Thursday.

"[Parliament has voted] to assist the Ukrainian authorities in negotiating the conditions governing the delivery of gas from Russia, in order to ensure that Ukraine's gas trade with Russia is consistent with EU trade standards and prices," the draft resolution reads.

The resolution also proposes strengthening, as part of the EU-Ukraine association agreement, cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in the energy field.

"[Parliament voted] to strive for the conclusion of further agreements between the EU and Ukraine aimed at securing energy supplies for both sides, including a reliable and diversified transit system for oil and gas and a common response mechanism in the event of disturbances or interruptions to oil and gas deliveries from the Russian Federation," the document reads.