European Union (EU) Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger on Tuesday warned against using sanctions in the gas sector as a political instrument.
"My position is to avoid sanctions in the gas sector. Day-to-day stable deliveries of gas should not be a political tool," said Oettinger at a meeting here.
Emphasizing that the EU is willing to find a diplomatic way out of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine gas crisis, Oettinger said that the European Commission has drafted proposals in this respect.
The two ex-Soviet countries have been embroiled in a standoff on gas pricing for a few months. In June, Russia cut all gas supplies to Ukraine as the two sides failed to reach an agreement on payments.
On Sept. 12, the EU imposed a new round of sanctions against Russia, which included restricting Russia's three energy companies from receiving capital in Europe.
In turn, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the EU actions left Russia with no other choice but to take additional measures to protect its interests.
The EU is heavily dependent on Russia, from which it imports a third of its oil needs and 39 percent of gas.
To come to agreement on further energy cooperation, the EU, Ukraine and Russia will hold a trilateral ministerial meeting on energy security in Berlin on Friday.