OREANDA-NEWS. On January 23, 2009 The First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Olexandr Turchynov denied information that the Gazprom Zbut Ukraine company will perform intermediary functions instead of the RosUkrEnergo company. He announced at a briefing in the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

He reminded this daughter company of Gazprom has been functioning on Ukrainian market for a year and was set up as a result of understandings between presidents of Ukraine and Russia Viktor Yushchenko and Volodymyr Putin, achieved last year in February.

“You know they have been working for a year and we see no influence on economics or energy of Ukraine, but on the other side, there are no problems with that, as if Gazprom gives an opportunity to its daughter structure which is not a mediator and proposes cheaper gas, I consider we will only be grateful our consumers could receive cheaper gas,” O.Turchynov opined.

“At the same time, if the gas is proposed at higher prices than in Naftogaz, it is understandable none needs such gas”.