“I hope that a new contract will be signed, but now we can say that the probability of signing before January 1 is very small, but we hope for the best,” Kobolev said.
According to TASS, his speech was broadcast on the company's YouTube channel.
Kobolev added that with every minute the probability of concluding a contract is "approaching zero."
Earlier, he did not rule out that an agreement on the transit of Russian gas would not be signed this year, but negotiations could resume in the spring of 2020. According to him, if US sanctions against Nord Stream 2 quickly enter into force, this will increase the chances of signing a gas transit contract at the end of this year or early next.
Kobolev also added that a long-term suspension of transit could be a big blow to the economy.
The next trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, Russia and the European Union on the transit of Russian gas through Ukrainian territory will be held on December 19 in Brussels.