Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said Wednesday that the European Union will push for diversifying gas shipment routes in future as transit via Ukraine poses an energy security risk for the E.U.
"Ukraine risk losing its status as a reliable transit country," Topolanek, whose country holds the six-month rotating E.U. presidency, told a news conference.
As the current dispute over transit fees between Russian natural gas producer OAO Gazprom (GAZP.RS) and Ukrainian pipeline operator Naftogaz escalated, E.U.-bound gas shipments via Ukraine were halted Tuesday night.
Alternative gas pipelines that skirt both Ukraine and Belarus would connect Russian gas fields directly with the E.U. gas pipeline networks.
Such projects, currently under construction, are Nord Stream, a pipeline under the North Sea, and South Stream, a pipeline under the Black Sea. Another alternative route, known as Nabucco, can bring gas from central Asian fields to the E.U. via Turkey.
Topolanek said that the E.U. officials will meet in Budapest in January to discuss the Nabuco pipeline project.
The Nabucco project is also supported by the U.S. as a way to the E.U.'s dependance on Russian gas supplies.