“The volumes that are now going through Ukraine should be transferred to contracts with European companies for the long term.
Thus, we must get guarantees that transit ... will be preserved, "Vitrenko quotes RIA Novosti.
He noted that Kiev is ready to negotiate with Gazprom.
According to the head of Naftogaz, the extension of the contract does not, in itself, provide sufficient guarantees to maintain pumping through Ukraine.
Earlier, Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko said that the Ukrainian authorities have an action plan in case of a decrease in gas transit through the country.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the Russian side is ready to continue gas transit through Ukrainian territory.