Ukraine had no technical possibility to cap gas supplies to European partners - EU Gas Coordination Group

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Ukraine did not have technical possibilities to halt gas supplies to Europe. This is a key conclusion of the EU Gas Coordination Group as it held its session on January 9, in Brussels involving Ukrainian and Russian experts, Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Konstiantyn Yeliseyev told a briefing.

The diplomat noted that during the meeting the Russian side had failed to persuade European partners of unreliability of Ukraine as a gas transit country. "Ukraine could not cap valves as they are in the Russian territory," the official stressed.

Konstiantyn Yeliseyev informed that at the meeting the Ukrainian party "had clearly presented its stance, provided printouts and schemes, demonstrated readiness to cooperate with European partners".

In follow-up to the meeting, Yeliseyev said, the European party will prepare recommendations for Ukraine to ensure continuous gas transit to Europe. An extraordinary session of the EU energy ministers to be held January 12 in Brussels is thought to be crucial in this context. "We have managed to prove in Brussels who had cut off the gas," Konstiantyn Yeliseyev underscored.

UKRINFORM