Gas contract distances Ukraine from Russia – Ukranian PM
Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has said that the current gas contract with Russia alienates Kyiv from Moscow every day.
“Every day that the unequal gas contract with Russia is in force, [it] separates Ukraine from Russia,” he said during his visit to The Hague on Friday, in comments on the signing of an operating agreement with Royal Dutch Shell on the development of hydrocarbon fields in Ukraine.
Azarov said that from the point of view of strategic partnership, this one-sided benefit does not help in the building of long-term relations.
The gas contract is a “constant irritant in our bilateral relations,” Azarov said.
“Therefore, Ukraine has no other option than to seek partners to diversify gas supplies and engage in energy efficiency,” Azarov said.