High-stakes Russia-Ukraine-EU gas talks begin in Brussels.....EU needs to foot the BILL.

High-stakes Russia-Ukraine-EU gas talks begin in Brussels.....EU needs to foot the BILL. (HD).

Russia, Ukraine and the EU began crunch gas talks on Oct. 21 to resolve a bitter price dispute and end fears that Moscow could halt crucial energy supplies to Europe this winter.
      
The high-stakes meeting between Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak, his Ukrainian counterpart Yuri Prodan and European Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger began as planned, a commission spokeswoman said.
      
"We had bilaterals with both sides and a trilateral meeting will start very soon," spokeswoman Marlene Holzner said.
      
"It's not possible to say when the talks will end," she added.
      
That supply cut heightened concerns that Europe, which gets about a third of its gas from Russia of which about a half transits via Ukraine, could be badly affected by the dispute this winter.
      
In the draft accord, cash-strapped Kiev would pay $3.1 billion (2.4 billion euros) in unpaid bills to Moscow by end-October, with a new contract to cover subsequent deliveries.
      
In Milan, Putin implied a deal was close but urged EU governments to help finalise the complex funding package required for Ukraine to afford the deal.
      
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking in Bratislava on Monday also said EU members states should do their part.
      
"Everyone must contribute, including Slovakia," Merkel told reporters in the Slovak capital.
      
"We're looking for a solution now, we don't have one yet and winter's already coming," she said.
Hmmmm....... Why does 'Married to the Mob come to my mind? 


Related: Putin: Russia will reduce Europe's gas supplies if Ukraine takes gas