You're reading: Ukrainian government bracing for halt in Russian gas supplies

Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has ordered his government to prepare for two scenarios following a gas dispute with Russia.

“Our task is to consider two scenarios, including one where Russia limits and stops gas supplies to Ukraine,” he said while opening a Cabinet meeting in Kyiv on Saturday.

In the event of implementing projects over reverse gas supplies to Ukraine from Europe via Slovakia, Poland and Hungary, Ukraine will be able to get up to 20 billion cubic meters a year, which will be $100-150 cheaper than the Russian gas, the prime minister said.

Ukraine’s Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yuriy Prodan told reporters that there was a high probability of Russia’s stopping gas deliveries to Ukraine, “because Russia has always taken chance to cut off gas supplies to Ukraine and Europe.” “This was done illegally in 2009, and this was illegal on the part of Russia in 2005. So the Russians may well do it,” he said.