Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman does not rule out completely that Ukraine will come back to direct purchases of natural gas from the Russian energy monopoly Gazprom, according to Reuters.
Ukraine is expected to bypass Russia to purchase the gas, but Groysman did not completely rule out in his interview with Reuters buying supplies from Russia`s Gazprom, saying his government would take a ”political decision” if Gazprom made the right offer.
Groysman also said Ukraine could soon expect to receive a $500 million loan from the World Bank to buy gas in exchange for certain conditions, including improving governance at state energy giant Naftogaz.
As UNIAN reported earlier, First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade Yuliya Kovaliv in May said Ukraine had not purchased natural gas from Russia`s gas monopoly Gazprom for more than five months, as it was more profitable to have gas supplied from the European market.
Ukraine imported 2.647 billion cubic meters of natural gas in Q1, 2016. In monetary terms, imports amounted to $521.7 million. Gas supplies were carried out only from Europe.
On March 31, NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine stated it had no plans to resume purchases of natural gas from Russia`s Gazprom from April 1, 2016, as the price offered by the Russian company was higher than that offered by European suppliers.
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