Naftogaz CEO Claims Ukraine Has Enough Gas to Live Through Winter

Ukraine has enough natural gas in stock to make it through the coming winter but would welcome Russian energy giant Gazprom’s guarantees just in case, the chief executive of the national gas firm Naftogaz said Monday.

KIEV (Sputnik) — Ukraine may need Gazprom's assistance in worst-scenario case, Andriy Kobolyev said Monday.

"We think these gas reserves would be enough even if an emergency happens … In this [worst-scenario] case, a contact with Gazprom would not hurt but it would not be critical," he told the 3STV television channel.

Kobolev also said Naftogaz is ready to buy gas from Russian energy company Gazprom if provided with a beneficial price and complementary agreement to the existing contract.

"We say that if Gasprom makes us the offer we are waiting for with regard to the price, delivery conditions and primarily the signing of the agreement, [than] yes [we are ready to buy]," he added.

Russia and Ukraine have been engaged in gas disputes for years. In June 2014, Gazprom switched Ukraine to a prepayment system for gas supplies over its massive gas debt. The same month, Ukraine’s Naftogaz appealed to the Arbitration Court in Stockholm, seeking a retroactive revision of its 2009-2019 natural gas transit contract with Russia.

In June, Naftogaz sent a proposal to Gazprom to sign an addendum to the existing contract that would allow the Russian company to resume gas deliveries to Ukraine.