European countries and companies have a combined demand for around 15 billion cubic metres (BCM) of Russian gas next year via Ukraine, Slovakia's economy minister said on Monday.

Slovakia aims to have a deal by the end of the year that will allow natural gas to continue to flow from Russia through Ukraine, Denisa Sakova, the nation’s deputy prime minister and economy minister said.

Key companies from central Europe are pushing for a deal that will allow the continued transit of gas through Ukraine next year, as time runs out to avoid an interruption of supplies that could trigger price spikes.