Shmyhal: Ukraine ready to extend Russian gas transit at EU's initiative

Ukraine is ready to extend the transit of Russian gas through its gas transportation system (GTS) at the initiative of the European Union countries, but will not extend the existing contract or sign a new one with Gazprom, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said a press conference on Monday in Kyiv, Report informs via Interfax.

"We, of course, are not going to negotiate (with the Russian Federation) to extend (the transit agreement) and put our signatures on the agreement, but we have repeatedly negotiated with European leaders within the framework of the European Commission. If the European countries act as a consortium or some of the European partners act as a transit country for its own gas - we are ready to provide such a service. Here the initiative is on the side of the EU and our European partners," Ukrainian media quote Shmyhal.

"A group, an association, a consortium. This could be the European Commission, a group of European countries that are interested in maintaining transit," Shmyhal said.

According to the prime minister, the Ukrainian gas transportation system is ready to function without the Russian gas transit.