Russia’s Gazprom says could maintain transit via Ukraine

Moscow (AFP) – Russia’s Gazprom said Tuesday it was possible that it could retain some transit via Ukraine after German Chancellor Angela Merkel said this was essential for a planned Russian-German pipeline to go ahead.

Gazprom chief Alexei Miller was quoted by the state-owned energy giant as saying: “We never raised the question of stopping Ukraine transit,” adding that “a certain amount of transit could be maintained, from 10 to 15 billion cubic metres per year, but the Ukrainian side must prove the economic expediency of a new transit contract.”