CRI听力:Ukraine, Russia Fail to Reach Deal at EU Gas Talks

Ukraine and Russia have failed to reach an agreement on gas supplies in the latest round of EU-sponsored talks.

However, EU officials say some headway is being made.

The negotiations have been launched to try to ensure Moscow will continue to provide Kiev with natural gas supplies through the winter.

EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger.

"We have made some important progress and thanks to good will by all of the partners we hope that we will reach an agreement on an interim agreement on a winter package for Ukraine. We're looking for a solution to provide gas supply security in the European Union, in the Western Balkans and of course for Ukraine."

Russia cut off gas supplies to Ukraine in the summer over unpaid bills.

Ukraine has asked the European Union for an additional loan of 2.5 billion US dollars as it struggles to cope with the implications of its standoff with Russia.

Ukraine had previously agreed to pay off its over 3-billion US dollar gas bill in two tranches this year to help unblock its access to Russian gas over the winter.

Another meeting is scheduled to take place in a week.