The gas agreement “in principle” reached between Russia and Ukraine on Thursday in Berlin is a sign that the two sides have been able to compromise at the political level, though the lack of details of the draft deal suggests a final agreement is not yet a given. Top European Commission official Maros Sefcovic — flanked by Russian energy minister Alexander Novak and his Ukrainian counterpart Oleksiy Orzhel — announced the agreement in principle “on all key elements” of a new gas deal at a press conference in Berlin. Novak added that the draft deal only required final political approval to be signed off formally. A further meeting is set for Saturday in Minsk, suggesting both sides are committed to final approval. There is always a risk — however remote now — that the process […]