European countries and companies have a combined demand for around 15 billion cubic metres (BCM) of Russian gas next year via Ukraine, Slovakia's economy minister said on Monday.
Slovakia and other countries receiving gas from Russia, transited via pipelines in Ukraine, are in talks to try to avoid those flows stopping when an existing transit contract expires at the end of the year.
"All together, we are in volume about 15 BCM," Denisa Sakova told reporters, of the volume of gas the buyers were seeking.
Slovakia has a long-term contract with Russia's Gazprom. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said last week he aimed to secure continued eastern supplies to avoid paying more in transit fees for gas from other directions.
Sakova said talks were ongoing between partners who could deliver the gas via Ukraine, with the aim of finding an agreement before the existing deal expires in two weeks. She declined to name the partners involved.
Slovakia is hoping a deal could cover gas deliveries for two or three years. The European Union has set an aim to stop using Russian fossil fuels by 2027.
"We are fully aware of this fact. But really, until 2027, somehow we have to fulfill the requirements of Slovak business and Slovak domestic household customers," Sakova said.
The European Commission has told EU countries it expects the end of the Ukraine transit deal would not have a significant impact on European gas prices. It has said all EU countries receiving gas through the route have access to alternative supplies.
Some EU diplomats, however, have raised concerns that an end to flows of Russian gas through the Ukraine route could prompt Moscow to bombard the pipeline infrastructure, disrupting Ukraine's own gas system.
Moldova also receives Russian gas via Ukraine. Moldova's parliament voted on Friday to impose a national state of emergency to cope with a potential Russian gas cut-off.
