Russia could transport gas again through Ukraine after 2024 if favorable economic conditions exist and the Ukrainian network is in good technical condition, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak was quoted as saying by EFE on Wednesday.

“I believe that under favorable economic conditions and a technically sound state, we will – no doubt about it – reserve the right capacity to transport gas through Ukraine’s infrastructure after 2024,” Novak told Russian daily RBC, insisting that Russia had never refused to use the Ukrainian gas pipeline.

“We are signing a transit agreement of 40 billion cubic meters a year through Ukraine by the end of 2024. It is a considerable volume of gas,” he said, according to Agerpres.

With regard to high gas prices in Europe, Novak has refrained from saying when the crisis will end.

“For this, there must be a gas supply that fully meets demand in Europe. Sufficient reserves must be created in underground storage to make winter safe,” said Novak, who emphasized the need to return to long-term contracts, which guarantee more stable prices.

According to the Russian Deputy Prime Minister, “one of the causes of the energy crisis in Europe is the lack of planning”.

According to the Ukrainian authorities, the transit of Russian gas has been reduced to almost 20%, or 87.7 million cubic meters per day, given that Gazprom has not reserved additional transport capacity through Ukraine for four months.

However, the Russian giant has complied with the agreed transit for 2021, of 40 billion cubic meters of gas, notes EFE.