You're reading: European expert: EU should help Ukraine, Russia solve gas dispute to avoid new gas war

Brussels, September 6 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The time has come for the European Union to intervene in the disagreement between Kyiv and Moscow over gas prices in order to avoid a possible repetition of a "gas war," European Policy Centre expert Amanda Paul has said.

"Ukraine and Russia are trying to resolve this issue at a bilateral level. Ukraine is offering Russia various options, but it looks as if Russia is pursuing its primary goal – to get hold of the Ukrainian gas transport system, which is absolutely not in Ukraine’s national interests," Paul told Interfax-Ukraine in Brussels on Tuesday.

"I think it’s time for the European Union to make a respective statement and do more behind the scenes, and help find a solution to this situation. If a new gas war begins, it will again lead to an interruption of gas supplies to the EU, and this is not the most pleasant experience," Paul said.

She said that, "nobody wants a gas war, and it is in the interests of all parties, including the European Union, to try to find a way out of this situation."