Owners of RosUkrEnergo (RUE) have been informed that Ukraine would not be able to quickly return 11 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas, Ukrainian Fuel and Energy Minister Yuriy Boyko said on the Inter TV channel late on Friday.
"We would return resources in the said volumes, as it’s impossible to get it, as we have neither money nor gas," he said.
"We understand that a court hearing is underway. Russian partners have been notified that we would not return 11 bcm of gas from our own balance. In any circumstances we don’t have it and we wouldn’t leave the country without gas," Boyko said.
He added that RUE board chairman and Gazprom deputy chairman Valery Golubev has received at least unofficial information that there would not be a quick return.
The minister also said that RUE co-owner Dmytro Firtash also knows that we would not return gas.
Boyko said that the businessman took the situation with understanding.
The official said that the Ukrainian government would have to make a certain decision if a court ruling were issued.
"After receiving a court ruling, we’ll send it to the Justice Ministry for examination. The government would see how to find a way out of the situation," Boiko said.
"We’ll reach certain agreements with Gazprom so that neither the country’s budget nor the balance of gas suffers," the minister said.
There could not be such a situation when Gazprom as the RUE co-owner could receive a part of the Ukrainian gas transport system, Boiko said answering a question on the possible situation.
