There are proposals from European Union member countries to continue purchases of Russian gas beyond the end of this year, he said today Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, quoted by Reuters. "We have repeatedly expressed our position that the problem should be solved by our buyer partners and, accordingly, by our colleagues from Ukraine, through which transit takes place," Novak told reporters, adding, "we have gas, we will deliver it."
Supplies of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine have been restricted since the start of the war, prompting the EU to reduce its dependence on Russian energy. However, countries such as Slovakia, Austria and the Czech Republic continue to receive Russian gas.
Earlier this month, the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, stated that the country is very interested in the transit of gas and oil from Russia through Ukraine to continue, adding that there is strong pressure from the European Commission to stop this transit.
Asked if the EU buyers had approached Russia about renewing the deal, Novak said that "there are concrete proposals of desire, but there is no such information that this has been translated into legal actions or documents.
Earlier this week, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal announced that Kiev would not extend its gas transit agreement with Russia, which expires at the end of 2024.
Novak added that (so far) there have been no negotiations with Azerbaijan regarding a swap agreement for gas transit through Ukraine.
In June, the EU and Ukraine asked Azerbaijan to facilitate discussions with Russia regarding the gas transit deal, presidential adviser Ilham Aliyev said at the time.