The absence of an acceptable gas agreement with Russia is forcing Ukraine to look for alternative supply sources, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said on March 15.
"We are forced to do this. It’s not our choice," Azarov said in an interview with the First National Channel.
He said that alternative sources would not fully substitute for Russian gas supplies but that "part of the gas could come from other sources".
Technical preparations for alternative supplies are under way, Azarov said.
Thanks to its underground gas storage facilities, Ukraine can buy gas at lower prices during summer and sell it during winter, he added.
Earlier reports suggested that Ukraine could strike a deal with Germany’s RWE for cheaper supplies, which means that it will have to operate its gas transportation network in reverse mode.
Shale gas extraction and the development of Black Sea shelf deposits are also being considered, Azarov said.
