“If the European Union ... takes a tough stance on Nord Stream 2 as a project that does not meet European interests and principles, then Russia has nowhere to go but to continue an agreement with Ukraine or sign a new one,” he writes in an article for the publication Glavred ".
According to the author, the extension of the agreement on gas transit through the Ukrainian territory is currently not part of Russia's plans.
"Moscow's goal is to reset Ukraine on the transit of Russian gas before the expiration of this agreement," Gonchar said.