The Russian President Vladimir Putin and the German Chancellor Angela Merkel have discussed over the phone the created situation around the transit of the Russian gas to the European consumers via Ukraine.

The Russian press service reports that Putin drew attention to the fact that in connected with the forecasted cold winter the risk that Ukraine may use the Russian gas without authorization, which according to existing agreement is supplied to Europe, increases. The parties agreed, that this issue will be discussed between the Ministry of Energy of the European Commission and the Russian Gazprom.

While exchanging views on the Ukraine issue, the parties stressed the importance of continuing implementing Minsk agreements, taking into consideration results of Norman Quartet meeting in Berlin. In this context, they raised a concern over continuing violations of the “silence mode" in Donbass.