CHISINAU, April 2. /TASS/. Ukraine is unlikely to halt the transit of Russian natural gas to Europe after the contract with Gazprom expires in 2024, Moldovan Energy Minister Victor Parlicov said.

"This is a very unlikely scenario because Ukraine still holds contracts with Slovakia, with Austria. Traders want to buy gas in Russia and this would mean that they [Ukraine] cancel this entire process," the minister said in an interview with Moldova 1 television when commenting on the danger of Russian gas deliveries to Transnistria being terminated.

The minister said he is continuously in contact with Ukrainian authorities on gas matters. Chisinau will be able in technical terms to supply gas and electric power to Transnistria in case the transit of gas via Ukraine is terminated, he added.

Moldova previously switched to other gas suppliers amid the shortage of Russian gas. At the same time, the country is importing electric power generated from Russian gas in Transnistria at low prices.