At his joint press conference with the Prime Minister of the Czech republic Mirek Topolanek, President Victor Yushchenko called upon Russia to resume supplies of gas to the European customers through the territory of Ukraine.
He reaffirmed Ukraine’s readiness meet its transit engagements as it did before and said that our country is ready to make the mechanism transparent. Besides, President Yushchenko emphasized that it is not Ukraine’s responsibility that European countries stopped getting Russian gas, because “the gauge should be opened by the side that had turned it off” and said that European consumers should not be made hostages to bilateral gas disputes between Ukraine and Russia.
From his part Prime Minister Topolanek said that the EU did not have intentions to interfere in bilateral gas disputes between Ukraine and Russia and seing both countries will to meet their engagements Europe wants to help them find consensus.
