Russia, Ukraine agree ‘in principle’ new gas deal

BERLIN (AA) - Russia and Ukraine have reached an agreement “in principle” on a new gas transit contract, but negotiations on the details will continue, officials said on Friday.

German Economy Ministry spokeswoman Beate Baron told a news conference in Berlin that the EU, Ukraine, and Russia struck a deal “in principle” yesterday during the fifth round of negotiations, adding that German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier had also joined in the talks.

“They have reached an agreement in principle yesterday, and that was the first important step,” she stressed, adding that the parties would continue negotiations on Friday on the details of the new gas transit contract.

Russia, Ukraine have been at loggerheads since 2014, when Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula after a controversial referendum.

Turkey as well as the UN General Assembly view the annexation as illegal.

Ukraine also blames the Kremlin for separatist violence in Donbass, a region in eastern Ukraine that borders Russia.

The current 10-year gas transit contract between Russia and Ukraine expires on Dec. 31.