The Naftogaz company will not extend the contract for the transit of Russian gas to Europe through the territory of Ukraine, the term of which expires in 2024, the president of the board of directors, Oleksiy Chernyshev, said in an interview quoted by the Ukrainian press EFE. the agency reports.

“Ukraine maintains the transit of Russian gas solely for the purpose of supporting our European colleagues,” Chernyshev said, justifying the fact that the transit has not been interrupted yet, despite the war, reports Agerpres.

However, after the contract with the Russian company Gazprom expires at the end of 2024, Naftogaz has “no intention or initiative” to extend it, said a Ukrainian official, emphasizing that the European Union has set a goal of completely abandoning gas consumption. Russian gas until 2027.

On the other hand, Chernyshev noted that Ukraine ranks third in Europe in terms of gas reserves and has “very ambitious plans” to increase production and reduce its own consumption in order to become a “net exporter” in the coming years. “.

A year ago, Naftogaz sued Gazprom at the International Court of Arbitration, claiming that the Russian giant was paying less than under the contract after unilaterally reducing the amount of gas it transports through Ukraine.