MOSCOW, April 11 (RIA Novosti) – European countries could draft a common response to the letter sent Thursday by Russian President Vladimir Putin over Ukraine’s gas debt before next week’s four-party talks on the crisis in Ukraine, an EU representative said Friday.
“The overwhelming majority of EU members agree that we need a concerted answer to this letter,” the source said on condition of anonymity.
The Russian leader addressed 18 heads of European countries on Thursday, raising concerns over Ukraine’s debt crisis.
Putin said that over the past four years Russia has subsidized Ukraine’s economy with natural gas discounts worth $35.4 billion. He suggested holding urgent ministerial consultations to find ways to stabilize Ukraine's shattered economy.
The letter was sent prior to a multilateral meeting on the Ukrainian situation attended by senior officials from the United States, Russia, Ukraine and the European Union.
The source also confirmed that talks on the ongoing political stalemate in Ukraine are scheduled for next Thursday in Geneva.
“Discussions are continuing, and there is a plan to hold this meeting next Thursday on April 17 in Geneva, but a number of issues still need to be settled,” the source said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a press conference on Friday that Moscow was ready for the Geneva talks, particularly over the Ukrainian gas issue.
