OREANDA-NEWS. May 06, 2013. The diversification of gas supply sources to Ukraine and liberalization of the gas market aims to reduce gas purchase under the contract that was signed in 2009. This was announced in an interview to the Mirror of the Week by Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Yuriy Boyko.

"The contract is one side, and our objective is to minimize gas purchase by the Naftogaz Ukraine under the contract. Cause this is taxpayers' money that we take from our country and give to another country, even friendly to us, but, in our opinion, by the high price," Yuriy Boyko said.

He stressed that Ukraine will reduce the volume of purchases of expensive gas under the contract signed in 2009 if its cost will not be reduced.

"We’ve notified them in advance and by June 1, in accordance with the contract sent written notice that we reduce procurement. This year we did the same. Our position is the same: if you reduce the price we will buy more," Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine said.

He also noted that Ukraine in response to the letter of the RF has argued its position concerning reducing volumes of purchases of natural gas.

"There are no complaints. There is a letter, but it does not an action. In response to the letter to pay the penalty we asked, first of all, to explain why we have to pay the amount, secondly, we argued that in the face of rising gas prices we have to substitute natural gas for our domestic energy resources, especially coal. And because of this we reduce the purchase as it meets our national interests," Yuriy Boyko stressed.