U.S. and EU leaders will on Wednesday pledge to work
together on sanctions and on strengthening the energy security of Europe and
Ukraine, as they seek to present a united front to Russia, a draft document
said.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Energy Secretary
Ernest Moniz are in Brussels for talks after a year in which the United States
has led the push for tougher sanctions, while some governments in Europe,
afraid economic measures against Russia will hurt them as much as they hurt
Moscow, have been more cautious.
The draft statement said the crisis between Russia and
Ukraine that erupted with Moscow's annexation of Crimea in March can be cooled,
as was shown by a tentative October agreement brokered by the EU on gas pricing
to ward off a supply crisis over the peak winter months.
Moscow cut off Kiev's gas in June in a row over unpaid bills
and the price Gazprom charges Ukraine.
So far the United States has been cautious about allowing
gas exports as U.S. politicians worry they could drive up domestic prices,
while business seeks to sell to the highest bidder, typically Asia rather than
Europe.
But the draft on Wednesday welcomed the prospect of U.S.
liquefied natural gas exports to Europe to diversify supplies and further talks
on a transatlantic trade deal. It also backed EU and Ukrainian plans for energy
reforms.
The European Union is seeking to complete its single energy
market, building extra links to share available supplies. Ukraine wants
improved infrastructure and connections with the EU network and to end years of
energy waste as it moves away from subsidised prices.
The EU and the United States stood shoulder-to-shoulder in
their support for Ukraine's new government and underlined the necessity of
continuing reforms in Ukraine's energy sector, the statement said.
Published by:Reuters
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