You're reading: Medvedev: Russia has alternative routes for shipping gas to Europe

Russia and Ukraine have a solid contractual basis to continue both gas cooperation and a discussion on gas supply, but Ukraine should understand that there are alternative routes to deliver gas to Europe, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said.

"Our partners should understand that there are very different opportunities for Gazprom to deliver gas to Europe," Medvedev said at a meeting with Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller on Wednesday.

Russia and Ukraine have "a reliable contractual basis to further work with Ukraine and simultaneously continue discussions regarding future gas cooperation," Medvedev said.

Medvedev also said that Russia will act in a civilized way in gas cooperation with Ukraine.

"We will act in a civilized manner. How else the Russian side may act?" Medvedev said during talks with Miller.

Miller said in turn that Russia will be a civilized partner and comply with the terms of the current contract.

Miller added that the assessed value of Ukraine’s gas transport system is overestimated, according to international experts.

"The conditions that our Ukrainian friends designated as suitable for the Ukrainian side – in particular, as regards the assessment of the Ukrainian gas transport system’s value – in the minds of absolutely all experts, including our Russian experts and international experts, the stated value is inflated," he said. "Besides that, there is currently no justification for further growth in the value of Ukraine’s gas transport system."