MOSCOW - CEO of Russian gas giant Gazprom Alexei Miller believes that Ukraine's role as a transit corridor for Russian gas to Europe has decreased significantly following the commission of the Nord Stream gas pipeline.
"Regarding a decrease in transit risks, with Nord Stream’s introduction, Ukraine’s role and importance as the exclusive transit country for Russian gas to Europe is gone, of course," he said during a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Thursday.
Commercial gas supplies along phase two of the Nord Stream pipeline will begin in October, Miller said.
"The second line will start to be filled with buffer gas in September and commercial supplies will begin in October," he said.
Work on constructing the South Stream gas pipeline will begin this year, with work on the marine section starting in December, Putin said.
