Report: Official says Ukraine ready to stop transit of Russian gas

KIEV, Nov 5 (PRIME) -- Ukraine is ready to discontinue Russian gas transit as its underground storages contain a record amount of gas for the winter season, Energy Minister Alexei Orzhel said in an interview broadcast on channel ICTV on Tuesday.

“We are ready for a situation, in particular, of suspension (of gas) transportation on the Ukrainian territory. Why ready? Because there is a record amount of gas in the underground storages which was pumped for the heating season,” Orzhel said.

The minister said that Ukraine would be able do without transit or direct supplies of gas during the winter season of 2019–2020, which does not rule out the priority of signing of a new gas transit agreement.

Russian President President Vladimir Putin said in October that Russia was ready to negotiations with Ukraine over gas supplies at significantly reduced prices, as well as on transit of gas through the country’s territory.

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