ITAR-TASS‎: Ukraine to keep buying gas from Russian, European companies — Naftogaz CEO

Ukraine plans to keep buying gas both from Russian state-controlled energy giant Gazprom and European companies, the head of Ukraine’s national oil and gas company Naftogaz, Andrey Kobolev, said Tuesday at an expert meeting on the European Union’s energy security in Brussels.

“In line with the diversification strategy, we will hold talks in two directions [with the EU and Russia], Kobolev said. “Yes, we would like to buy a certain volume from Gazprom if the price is fair.”

He said “many EU countries want to sell gas to Ukraine,” adding that now Ukraine has “four key suppliers, who, if their capabilities are used in full, account for supplies of about 1 billion cubic meters of gas a month from the EU to Ukraine.”

“If we are able to double the volume, Ukraine will be able to do without Russian gas forever,” Kobolev said. He said his country should “solve technical issues of reverse supplies from Slovakia.”
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