The EU appeared to be positive on talks it had with Moscow regarding the security of supply of natural gas, stressing that Russia’s “credibility” is at stake, after the threats it had made that it will stop shipments of gas.

“The EU accepts your proposal for consultations with the Russian Federation and the Ukraine regarding the security of gas supplies and transit”, stated European Commission President Jose Barroso in a letter addressed to Vladimir Putin.

“It is in our common interest to quickly begin these talks, including the Ukraine”, he added, clarifying that these talks “will help in avoiding an extreme scenario and to guarantee security of supply and transit, while creating the conditions for a cooperation mainly concerning the modernization of the Ukrainian gas transit system”.

On the 10th of April, the Russian president had threatened to halt gas deliveries to the Ukraine if the country did not settle its debt.

As announced by Moscow today, it gives the Ukraine a month in order to settle its dispute with Russia concerning gas, otherwise it will put a system of prepayment of gas, in place.

Even before the announcement, Barrosso had stressed that “such a development causes serious concerns because it creates the risk of interruption of services in the EU and other countries”.

“Russia’s reliability on its contracts as a gas supplier is at stake”, he had warned. “We invite you to avoid such measures, which would cause doubts about your willingness to be considered as a reliable gas supplier to Europe”.