Germany and the European Union are urging Russian giant Gazprom and Ukrainian gas player Naftohaz to settle their differences and comply with an arbitration ruling to normalise gas supply to Ukraine.

“It is in the interest of Germany and the European Union, and of Russia and Ukraine, that both these countries show themselves to be reliable partners in European gas supply and guarantee continuous supplies,” German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said in a briefing on Monday, according to Reuters.