Speaking after the commission's meeting, Mr Zhukov said that "on the whole, Russia considers the Czech Republic to be a reliable and promising trade partner". He added that a reduction in Russian oil supplies to the Czech Republic has no link with the decision to deploy elements of the US missile defence system on its territory.
"We have already spoken about that. I can confirm that there is no link between these events," Zhukov said. He noted that Russia "is again offering the Czech side to establish direct contacts." "This will guarantee supplies on a large scale, all the more so if they sign a long-term agreement," he emphasized. Mr Zhukov also said unsuitable prices of mediators were the main reason behind irregular oil supplies.
In turn, Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Martin Říman expressed his country's readiness to sign direct contracts with Russia on oil supplies in the near future. "We are hoping and are convinced that oil supplies to the Czech Republic will be resumed in the near future on the scale agreed upon before," he emphasized.
During the commission's meeting the sides also discussed possibilities of joint construction of nuclear power plants in the Czech Republic, Russia, and third-party countries.
"I'd like to emphasize our interest in cooperation, particularly in building new nuclear power plants on Czech territory. We believe that this may be done effectively with the participation of Czech companies," Mr Zhukov declared. "We think that Russian-Czech cooperation has very good prospects in the nuclear industry," he added.