Energy ministers for Russia and United States pressed for a for nuclear fuel network while the European Union sought reliable natural gas deliveries from Russia during a second day of G8 meeting in Moscow. The talks are being held to address securing global energy supplies.
"We want Russia to produce more gas and consume less," EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs told Moscow Echo radio in an interview late Wednesday. He also said that energy saving in the Russia would be advantageous for both Russia and international markets.
Europe, which depends on Russia for approximately 25 percent of natural gas imports, is concerned that Russia may not be producing enough gas for export and is still edgy after Russian gas supply disruptions in January and February.
"It's important to have an agreement with the Russians on gas transit," French Industry Minister Francois Loos told the Associated Press.
Meanwhile in Brussels on Tuesday, EU ministers called for a "new partnership" with Russia to secure EU energy imports. The call came after Russia and Ukraine bickered over natural gas prices and disrupted the supplies in January.
The Associated Press reported that EU Pesident Jose Manuel Barroso was set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday and said that Europe and Russia were "energy interdependent" and should boost cooperation. Ministers from the G8 nations, made up of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States, were set to meet Putin in the Kremlin for talks on Thursday.