On 19 July, Ukrainebegan updating its Soviet-era gas transportation system, with the first stagebeing the reconstruction of the Urengoi-Pomary-Uzhgorod main pipeline from Russia. At the ceremony, which took placenear Bohuslav in theKyiv region, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarovsaid that most parts of the natural gas delivered from Russia to Europe goes through Ukraine and that therewas a chance forthe transit country to offer gas-pipeline advantages to its Russian and European partners. With the Russian-backed North Stream gas pipeline construction under way and the South Stream pipeline on the cards, Kyiv fears that Ukraine’s position as a transit country for gas to Europe may be diminished. Ukraine accounts for 80% of Russian gas transit to EU countries. Read the story here.
