Ukraine loses EUR 15 b due to disadvantageous contract with Gazprom, says Azarov

Ukraine has lost EUR 15 billion due to a disadvantageous gas supply contract with Russia, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said in an interview with the German newspaper Badische Zeitung.

According to Kommersant-Ukraine, Azarov said this answering a question about the lawfulness of the arrest of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

"The people of Ukraine are facing huge economic losses, because Tymoshenko when she was prime minister signed an illegal gas deal with Russia. The losses have exceeded EUR 15 billion. Can a politician, who has brought such tremendous harm, shy away from responsibility? It is pointless to look for any political motives," the premier said.