You're reading: Experts do not have high hopes for round table on Ukraine’s gas transport system in Brussels

Ukrainian energy experts do not believe that a round table on the future of the Ukrainian gas transport system (GTS), which will take place in Brussels on May 3, will produce any significant results.

“In my opinion, nothing unexpected will happen in Brussels,” energy expert Oleksandr Narbut said at a press conference in Kyiv on Tuesday.

He said that Russia was unlikely to participate in this event, as it is still considering the Ukrainian gas transport infrastructure as the key to Ukraine’s political, economic and energy independence and does not want to share with anyone an existing mechanism of influence on neighboring states.

Expert Oleksandr Chaly said that it would be better to hold such a round table in Kyiv. He said this would remove certain protocol inconvenience that may arise for the Russian side.

A correct result of the round table in Brussels should be the holding of an energy summit in Ukraine, he said.

Former Ukrainian Ambassador at Large for Energy Security Viacheslav Kniazhnytsky, in turn, proposed that the Ukrainian government prepare by May 3 an action plan on the fulfillment of commitments that Ukraine assumed by signing the documents on joining the EU’s Energy Community.