Azarov: Ukraine is ready to refuse gas mediators

Ukraine’s government supports possible change to direct relations between “Gasprom” and “Naftogas Ukraine” under condition on acceptable gas price preservation. Finance Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov said that.

”We will consider intention of “Gasprom” to have direct relations,” Azarov commented on “Gasprom” director Dmitriy Medvedev statement on possible refusal from mediators in 2008.

“But we act first of all on that the prices for gas must be acceptable for Ukraine,” Azarov added.

As a reminder, Medvedev said: “We are likely to reconsider relations with Ukraine and avoid current or any other mediatory structures in 2008. Maybe it will make our relations easier and will help us to make payments in time and not to have such debts as we have now.”

Since 2006 Russian company “Gasprom” totally controls supply of gas to Ukraine.

“RosUkrEnergo” delivers central Asian gas to Russian-Ukrainian boundary and resells it to “UkrGasEnergo” which delivers it to final consumers and a part to “Naftogas Ukraine” for further provision of Ukrainian enterprises and budget establishments with fuel.