Slovak Economy Minister Tomas Malatinsky said his country has drawn up a solution that should enable a reverse gas flow to Ukraine in November,

"I'm expecting to sign a license for gas-pipeline operator Eustream for a technological solution on Monday whereby it will be possible to supply specific volumes of gas in reverse flow in November," he told a local TV on Sunday.

Malatinsky is set to hold talks on the issue of the reverse flow with Ukrainian and EU officials on Tuesday, while Slovakia wants a representative from Russia to attend the meeting.

Russian gas normally flows to European Union customers through Ukraine.

In early April, Russian gas giant Gazprom raised the price of gas supplies to Ukraine to 485 U.S. dollars per 1,000 cubic meters, which Ukraine reckons too high.

Gazprom has pressed Ukraine's government to pay its debts standing around 2 billion U.S. dollars, or it could retaliate by cutting off wider supplies to Europe, as happened in 2009.