Yatseniuk calls for minimal use of Russian gas

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk has called for the minimal use of Russian gas.

"We have proved that we are capable of getting rid of our dependence on Russia for gas," Yatseniuk said on a program aired on "1+1" television on Sunday, the press service for the Ukrainian Cabinet has reported.

Yatseniuk said Ukraine bought 95% of its gas from Russia in 2013, while in 2014 the country bought 67% of its gas from the EU and only 33% from Russia.

"However, we should continue thinking about the real energy independence and energy effectiveness. We can also considerably increase our energy effectiveness by increasing our own gas and oil extraction," Yatseniuk said.

Yatseniuk said he believes "the real price of natural gas" needs to be reached gradually, within two years.

Yatseniuk earlier said Ukraine had purchased more gas from Slovakia than from Russia in January.

According to earlier reports, Gazprom reduced the supply of gas to the EU through the transit corridor to the minimal contractual levels in response to the launch of large-scale reverse supply from Slovakia to Ukraine.