Ukraine to continue gas transport as long as this is technically possible - Naftogaz head

KYIV. March 22 (Interfax-Ukraine) - Ukraine will continue to transport Russian natural gas across its territory as long as this is technically possible, but it has proposed that the revenues from its sale be frozen on escrow accounts, Yuriy Vitrenko, chairman of Naftogaz of Ukraine, said in an interview with Bloomberg.

"It's been decided for now that, as long as this is technically possible, we'll continue transporting Russian gas," Vitrenko said.

The Russian forces are acting very cautiously with regard to the gas transport infrastructure in Ukraine, Vitrenko said.

"Therefore, it's obvious to us that they don't want to cause damage to their own commercial interests and their commercial relations," he said.

Vitrenko reaffirmed that Kyiv currently remains fully in control of the gas transport process, and Gazprom is utilizing the contracted facilities.

The payments for gas transport are made in hard currency, i.e. euros and U.S. dollars, Vitrenko said.

He suggested that Russia's access to the money it receives for exporting gas should be restricted by accumulating it on escrow accounts instead of transferring it to the supplying companies. 

Europe should not fear that energy prices might somewhat grow if supplies from Russia are halted, Vitrenko said. "That is why we say that Europe should put an end to its dependence on Russian gas and oil as soon as possible. And this can be done even in a short term," he said.