Chernomyrdin: Ukraine can't be independent of Russia

Russian Ambassador to Ukraine Viktor Chernomyrdin considers that Ukraine is not likely to be independent of Russia in gas issues. He told journalists on Tuesday.

In particular, answering the journalists question whether it is possible Ukraine not to be dependent on Russia in gas issues, Chernomyrdin said: “I think not. Gas produced by Russia is the only one “storeroom” which provides not only Russia and post soviet area but the whole European continent, and now we are moving to Asia.”

He also informed that he had not heard statements from Yulia Tymoshenko on intention to build new gas pipeline “White stream” which would avoid Russia and join countries of Central Asia with countries of the EU through the Black sea and Ukraine.

At that Chernomyrdin noted that Ukraine can build this pipeline but to build something it is necessary to have something.

As a reminder, in scope of her visit to Brussels Yulia Tymoshenko has stated that Ukraine is proposing the European Union to study closer the possibility of participation in the project for the construction of the White Stream gas pipeline.