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The Norwegian energy giant Statoil on Friday confirmed its deal with the Ukrainian company Naftogaz for gas supply.
"Statoil has entered into an agreement with Naftogaz," which came into effect on Oct. 1, Morten Eek, spokesperson for Statoil, told the Norwegian news agency NTB on Friday.
The delivery shall be done via Slovakia, said Eek.
"In relation to Statoil's gas portfolio, this is a short-term agreement on a relatively low volume of gas," said Eek, who refused to elaborate on the deal.
In a statement, Andrij Kobolev, CEO of Naftogaz, said that the agreement marks a significant breakthrough for the Ukrainian gas company.
"We will integrate Ukraine fully in the energy market in the EU and is working with the European Commission and other key players, " he said.
The price of Russian gas supplies to Ukraine nearly double after the former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych fled to Russia in February amid months of street protests, which were triggered by Yanukovych's refusal to sign an economic integration agreement with the EU.
In June, Russia cut gas supply to Ukraine after the two countries failed to reach a deal over how to settle the overdue bills amounting to 1.95 billion U.S. dollars.
On Sept. 26, the EU, Ukraine and Russia held a trilateral ministerial meeting on energy security in Berlin.
Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger said that Russia and Ukraine had agreed in principle on an interim deal over gas supplies and would meet in the following week to decide on final details.
