Senior Russian official says Europe shows no interest in buying gas from Russia

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Europe shows no interest in buying gas from Russia after the expiration of the gas transit contract with Ukraine later this year, said a top Russian official on Saturday.

Speaking at an exhibition in Moscow, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Moscow is ready to discuss gas supplies to Europe both in transit through Ukraine and also via other routes, but so far it does not see any interest in it from the other side.

"We are always ready to continue gas supplies to Europe, and not only via the route that is currently in operation until the end of 2024. If there is a desire on the other side to continue, we will be ready to discuss these issues. So far, we do not see such a desire," he emphasized.

Last October, Oleksiy Chernyshov, the head of Ukraine's energy company Naftogaz, which operates the gas transit infrastructure, said Ukraine would not extend the agreement on the transit of Russian gas through its territory to Europe after its expiration at the end of 2024.

On Thursday, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal reiterated Kyiv's position, saying there were no plans to renew the contract.