Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal had a conversation Friday night with U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. The two discussed energy security issues, including the upcoming heating season, according to an e-mailed statement, Bloomberg reported, citing a statement.

Shmygal said Ukraine is in talks to get $1.5 billion from the U.S. Eximbank to buy gas. Ukraine may have 15 billion cubic meters of gas in storage by Nov. 1, Yuriy Vitrenko, head of the Ukrainian state energy company Naftogaz, said Friday.

In turn, Yellen highlighted the need to identify near-term projects with high returns, which are crucial for the recovery of the Ukrainian economy, the news agency noted.

Earlier, the European Union approved an aid package to Ukraine in the amount of 9 billion euros, but to date the country has been sent aid of 1 billion euros.

Amid the new aid plan, up to 5bn euros is expected to be allocated in the form of long-term loans against guarantees, while another 4bn euros will be sent in the form of grants. The day before, the EU member states' finance ministers approved the plan.