MOSCOW, March 5. /TASS/. Ukraine is ready to ensure the security of Russian gas supplies to Europe through its territory next winter and beyond, but all European countries have pledged to phase it out by 2027, head of the country’s Gas Transmission System Operator (GTSOU), Dmitry Lippa said.

"We say that if our partners do not have time to reformat their sources of supply and are forced to turn to the Russian Federation next year, then this will be their decision. As our political leadership, the Prime Minister, accordingly said, we will provide such a service," Lippa said on the Rada TV channel.

"We will be able to ensure security of supplies next winter for our European partners. We will see how they will build their market in the coming years," he added.

Lippa noted that the main consumers of Russian gas supplied through the territory of Ukraine are Austria and Slovakia. "However, it should be clearly stated that 2027 is the deadline for them. And they have taken upon themselves the corresponding obligations to completely stop using Russian gas," he said.

Earlier, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmygal said that Kiev is ready to continue the transit of Russian gas to Europe through its territory after the contract with Gazprom expires at the end of this year, but does not intend to negotiate this directly with Moscow. Shmygal suggested that gas could be purchased by European countries before it is pumped into the gas transportation system of Ukraine. In this case, Ukraine would formally transit European gas.