Ukrainian Foreign Ministry: Gas Issue to be discussed at Normandy Meeting

Vadym Prystaiko called gas negotiations an important issue, but they do not underlie the restoration of peace in Donbas. Negotiations on a gas deal will be an important part of the Normandy-format meeting, said Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko at a briefing on Friday, November 1, Liga.net reports. The minister called the gas talks difficult, as Russia uses gas as a weapon against Ukraine and all of Europe. “It is impossible to get around this issue, but it doesn’t underlie the restoration of peace in Ukraine,” Prystaiko said. He noted that since the leaders of the Normandy Four have the opportunity to meet, they cannot but use it for gas talks. At the same time, Prystaiko repeatedly emphasized that this has been a separate issue from the restoration of peace in Donbas. In turn, Vice-Prime-Minister of European Integration and Euroatlantic Integration of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba recalled that yesterday the Verkhovna Rada passed a law on the gas transmission network independent operator, and emphasized that this was done not only with a view to further integration into the EU energy market, but also to “disarm” Russia in the talks. Korrespondent