Naftogaz plans to agree winter contract with Gazprom in September

Naftogaz Ukrainy plans to sign an agreement with Gazprom before the end of September on the terms of gas purchases in the heating season, Naftogaz chief Andriy Kobolev said.

"After the latest talks with Gazprom and the European Commission, we are fairly optimistic that we will be able to receive financing, top up underground gas storage facilities and we will have a comfortable level of inventories in order to make it through the winter," Kobolev said in Kyiv on Friday.

Ukraine currently has 15 billion cubic meters of gas in storage, which is insufficient for now, he said.