Czechs urge Russia, Ukraine to resolve gas dispute

In its new role at the head of the EU, the Czech Republic on Thursday urged further negotiations to resolve a dispute between Russia and Ukraine over gas supplies, after Russia said it would switch off supplies to its ex-Soviet neighbour. "The EU presidency and the Commission urge both sides and their governments to continue negotiations and rapidly reach a successful outcome so that gas supplies to the EU are not affected," EU president the Czech Republic and the European Commission said in a joint statement. "All existing commitments to supply and transit must be honoured," the Czech Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Alexander Vondra said on Thursday.

The reliability of energy supplies from Russia to Europe is likely to top the agenda of a meeting of EU ministers to be held in the Czech Republic next week.