The French government today urged Russia and Ukraine to resume negotiations "as soon as possible" over the row about the price Kyiv pays Moscow for gas.
Speaking in Paris, Foreign Ministry spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei said Moscow and Kyiv must find an "agreement acceptable to everyone."
The German government also urged a compromise today. Spokesman Thomas Steg said that "the German government has an emphatic interest that, in the interest of securing gas supplies to Germany and Western Europe, the talks end as quickly as possible with a compromise acceptable to both sides."
Steg added that the European Union would take the lead in pushing Moscow and Kyiv toward a deal.
Austrian Vice Chancellor Hubert Gorbach also said today that the leaders of Russia and Ukraine needed to make a deal. But he added that the dispute did not urgently require EU mediation.
The Austria Press Agency quoted Gorbach as saying that the EU should only get involved if the situation worsens.
A number of Central European countries have noticed a substantial drop in gas pressure today. Yesterday, Russia began restricting gas flow to Ukraine.
A panel of EU energy experts will meet on 4 January to discuss the crisis.
(AFP/AP/dpa)
RFE/RL's World: 2005 In Pictures
A slideshow of images related to the top news stories of 2005 from throughout RFE/RL's broadcast region with links to RFE/RL's reporting.
See also:
2005 In Review: Central Asia Witnesses Revolution, Continued Crackdown
2005 In Review: Does The Presence Of Western Election Observers Make A Difference?
2005 In Review: The Geopolitical Game In Central Asia
2005 In Review: Migrants, Refugees Victims Of Incoherent Laws In Post-Soviet States
2005 In Review: The Transformation Of Television In Russia
2005 In Review: Russia's Centralization Gathers Pace
2005 In Review: A Year Of Hopes, Disappointments For Afghans And Iraqis
