BRUSSELS, Oct. 19 - The European Union should join in guaranteeing uninterrupted energy supplies to Europe via Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a Monday press conference in Brussels.

"I hope we will learn our lesson from last year's problems [the gas crisis] and do everything to prevent similar problems in the beginning of next year. Ukrainian partners have made the assurances, but we think it important for the EU to join guaranteeing uninterrupted supplies," he said.