Ukraine is concerned about reduction in Russian gas transit to Europe

Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Yuri Boyko said today that Kiev is concerned about the decrease in the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine to Europe. He said that Ukraine is going to hold talks with Moscow on the issue.

According to Boyko, the construction of the "South Stream" gas pipeline, bypassing Ukrainian territory, infringes on the national interests of Kiev, RIA Novosti reports.

Earlier, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said that Ukraine could "freeze" some of its pipelines  if the transit of Russian gas to Europe significantly falls. Kiev believes that the modernization of the Ukrainian gas transport system would be more cost effective than the construction of the "South Stream."

The government spokesman said that Kiev had no contracts with European companies and that the performance of obligations to supply certain quantities of gas to the EU lies solely with Gazprom.