BRUSSELS, Sept. 8 – The European Commission hopes that any conflict over gas supplies between Ukraine and Russia will not affect the European Union, EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger said.

He introduced in Brussels a new concept for the energy legislation and energy policy of the EU in the sphere of its cooperation with the third states. When asked about the EU's actions in the case of there being another "gas war" between Moscow and Kiev, Oettinger said, "We are watching the political relations of these states. I talked to [Russian Energy Minister] Sergei Shmatko in Moscow and [Ukrainian Energy Minister] Yuriy Boyko in Kiev."