EU, Russia agree to hold energy trilateral meeting

BRUSSELS -- The European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso called Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, discussing the energy situation and agreeing to hold a trilateral meeting at ministerial level.

According to a statement issued by the European Commission after the talks, Russia will propose a date for the talks "very shortly."

Media reports had that the Russian energy ministry last week rejected an EU proposal to hold a trilateral gas meeting on Sept. 20.

Both the two heads marked their agreement with the joint conclusions reached in the trilateral talks last Friday on the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, as these conclusions should be implemented and on the EU side this will now be discussed with the member states.

"On this basis, President Putin confirmed that there would be no changes to the current bilateral trade regime between Russia and Ukraine," said the statement.

The two leaders agreed that these steps should contribute to a political and peaceful solution, in full respect of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.