Turkmenistan May Soon Begin Gas Supplies to Ukraine

Turkmenistan will most likely begin supplying natural gas to Ukraine so that the latter can reduce its dependence on Russian supplies, Associated Press said in a report.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhary said that his country regretted its failure to preserve energy ties with the Central Asian nation. Up until 2006, Turkmenistan supplied Ukraine with 36 billion cubic meters of gas annually. AP said.

Kozhary said assistance would be sought from Russia, through which Turkmen gas must transit to reach Ukraine, in reaching a new arrangement. Russia also buys gas from Turkmenistan, but spare pipeline capacity has been created due to flagging demand from Moscow.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych is expected to visit Turkmenistan next month for talks likely to focus on energy, the news agency said.