Naftogaz CEO Oleksiy Chernyshov has refuted rumors about the suspension of Russian oil transit to Europe before the expiration of existing contracts, following comments from Presidential Office advisor Mykhaylo Podolyak.
“I categorically deny the rumours about the suspension of oil transportation to Europe before the contract expires. Ukraine remains a reliable partner for European countries. We understand the importance of a stable energy supply for the population, so we will continue to fulfill our obligations under the existing gas and oil transportation contracts,” Chernyshov stated.
He emphasised that successful negotiations with the Slovak government and major energy businesses during his recent visit to Bratislava further confirm Ukraine’s commitment. “At the same time, we support and contribute in every possible way to Europe’s rapid diversification of energy sources,” Chernyshov added.
According to WeUkraine, Mykhaylo Podolyak echoed this sentiment, highlighting Ukraine’s firm stance on not engaging in direct relations with Russia. “Ukraine’s position on transit is quite clear: no relations with Russia. However, if there are direct requests from European countries or companies under existing agreements, Ukraine is ready to cooperate and solve problems,” Podolyak said.
He further clarified the situation regarding the Druzhba oil pipeline, stating, “We support the European Commission in its efforts to diversify oil supplies to countries in the region to reduce or eliminate the presence of Russian oil. Meanwhile, Ukraine has fulfilled and will continue to fulfill its contractual obligations in full until the stipulated expiry date of such contracts. This is true for our bilateral relations with European countries. The recent positive visit of Naftogaz CEO Chernyshov to Slovakia once again confirms this.”
Earlier, Podolyak had mentioned that Ukraine would stop oil and gas transit on January 1, 2025, underlining the importance of transitioning away from Russian energy sources.