You're reading: Poroshenko certain Russian gas transit will continue via Ukraine after 2019

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has said he is confident that transit of Russian gas through Ukraine will continue after 2019.

“I am confident that transit through Ukraine and the transit agreement between Naftogaz and Gazprom after 2019 will also be extended, as there is no other economic alternative,” he said at a press conference with Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev in Kyiv.

Poroshenko stressed the importance of ensuring the energy security of the European Union.

“I can assure you that any projects bypassing Ukraine make gas in Europe more expensive, which means that prices are not competitive… We will not support this. Ukraine is interested in long-term, market-based prices, ensuring the energy security of the European Union. I do not rule out that if this does not occur and we agree with the European Union, then we will buy gas for Europe on the Ukrainian-Russian border and this will allow deprive anyone of monopoly,” he said.

Poroshenko went on to note the prospects of using gas storage facilities in Bulgaria and Ukraine for gas supplies to Europe.