KEMEROVO, January 26. /TASS/. The decision of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine to fine gas giant Gazprom will not affect gas transition via Ukraine which is conducted by the Russian company, Deputy Energy Minister Anatoly Yanovsky told reporters.

"The contract [on gas transit -TASS] should be implemented," - he said.

When asked whether Russian authorities will take any efforts to solve the situation, Yanovsky said that it is Gazprom that is to decide on this issue.

"Gazprom has a contract with Naftogaz of Ukraine and that contract was signed not only within the legal boundaries of Ukraine. It envisages a procedure of dispute settlement. It is an arbitral procedure," Yanovsky said.

He said that this won’t have any impact on the implementation of the contract.

Earlier, the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine decided to fine Gazprom for 85 billion hryvnia (about $3.4 billion) for abusing its dominant position on the market of natural gas transit in Ukraine.

Gazprom responded that it considers the decision of the antimonopoly committee as an attempt to put pressure on the company and intends to defend its interests.

"This is an utter surprise for us because Gazprom does not carry out any business activities on the territory of Ukraine because it passes natural gas to Naftogaz of Ukraine on the western border of Russia. The decision of the antimonopoly committee of Ukraine cannot be seen otherwise but as an attempt to put pressure on Gazprom. Gazprom intends to defend their rights and legitimate interests by all available legal methods," Gazprom said in a statement.