Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovich described as an improvization the proposal from Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin regarding the possibility of a merger of Naftogaz and Gazprom.
“It was an impromptu,” he said. “And it does not at all mean that Ukraine will decide it this way.”
The variants of a merger of Naftogaz and Gazprom are many, Yanukovich said. It is important to look into certain aspects and first of all to consider the amount of gas for Europe, and how the suppliers may cope with it.
Ukraine, Yanukovich said, will buy as much gas from Russia as it needs.
“We are interested in building up gas transit, but our key policy is that of protecting Ukraine’s interests,” the president said.
As follows from Yanukovich’s comments the Ukrainian presidential press service published on Wednesday this initiative may be seen as only one of several possible scenarios of gas cooperation with Russia.
“Should a decision is made to have talks on the ideas expressed by Russia's prime minister, then at some point we shall have to invite the EU - the key consumer of gas - to join in,” he said.
“I would like to stress once again that Ukraine will be able to build up gas transit to Europe, if the pipeline system is upgraded. That may be done within five years without stopping the gas flow to Europe.”
“We have worked out a plan already. Now we shall have to consult our partners,” Yanukovich said, adding that the first thing to do was to find out if Russia and the Central Asia countries would be able to build up their supplies.
“It is only natural that Ukraine’s future decision should be harmonized with the partners – both suppliers and consumers,” Yanukovich concluded.
He said that it was in Ukraine’s interests not only to maintain the gas traffic to Europe, but to increase it at least to 200 billion cubic metres a year. Now Ukraine transits 120 billion cubic meters.
Russian State Duma Deputy Speaker, Gas Society Chairman Valery Yazev, likes Putin’s proposal of uniting Gazprom and Ukraine’s Naftogaz, too.
“This idea is realistic and it is to the benefit of all parties concerned – Ukraine, Russia, and the European Union.”
“This merger may raise the Russian-Ukrainian cooperation in energy to a new level, and it will secure reliable transit of Russian gas to Europe, which is very important in the long term.”