The prime minister of the Czech Republic, currently holding the EU presidency, will arrive in Kyiv Friday to discuss the situation around Russian gas transit to Europe, the Ukrainian premier`s spokeswoman said, RIA Novosti reported.
"The head of the Ukrainian government, Yulia Tymoshenko, is scheduled to meet her Czech counterpart [Mirek Topolanek] in the airport. The talks will be held in the evening," the Unian agency quoted Marina Soroka as saying.
Russia and Ukraine failed to agree on New Year`s Eve on how to settle Kyiv`s gas debts or on a contract for 2009 deliveries. As a result, gas supplies from Russia to European consumers through Ukraine were reduced and then halted, affecting in particular Hungary, Serbia, Macedonia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Bosnia, Italy, Poland, France, Slovenia, Austria, the Czech Republic, Romania and Slovakia.
Around 80% of Russia`s gas exports to Europe pass through Ukraine.
