Gazprom and Naftogaz signed gas agreement

Energy and Coal Industry Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn told this at a briefing at the Cabinet of Ministers, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

“The transfer of funds to Gazprom and gas deliveries are carried out under the bilateral agreement [between Russia’s Gazprom and Naftogaz of Ukraine]. It has been signed,” the minister said, not specifying the date of agreement’s signing.

According to the minister, Ukraine needs Russian natural gas to go through the upcoming heating season. At the same time, the energy ministry plans to reduce gas supplies from Russia, or even to fully refuse from them.

“We hope that the next year it will be easier for us to go through winter and we may be able to overcome it without Russian gas. Energy efficient measures are being held, although they are not enough. And the inner gas production has not been yet increased,” the minister added.

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