The proven natural gas reserves in Ukraine are currently slightly over one trillion cu. m. Assuming that the annual gas recovery is 20 bn. cu. m/year, this reserve will last 50 years. And in half a century, it is quite possible that new deposits will be found and new extraction technologies will be developed to recover the previously unaccesible reserves.

Recently, the only Ukrainian geological exploration ship "Iskatel" has found new natural gas deposits in the two of eight sectors of the north-western Black Sea shelf, in Odesa oblast. As reported by the provisional Head of the State Service of Geology and Mineral Resources of Ukraine Mykola Boiarkin, there is at least 40 bn. cu. m of natural gas there.

In 2010 and 2011, we have consumed approximately 60 bn. cu. m/year, and in 2015, — just 32 bn. cu. m. Thus, we have reduced our consumption of natural gas almost by half. And in the years to come, we expect to consume approximately 30 — 35 bn. cu. m. We extract 20 bn. cu. m of our own gas, thus we need to purchase only the extra 10–15 bn.

Consequently, termination of Russian gas supplies to Ukraine is not a problem for us. Because Naftogaz of Ukraine has organised reverse gas supplies from Europe, we can easily do without Russian gas. Through purchasing gas from European suppliers since 2014, Ukraine was able to save $400 million. Although, Ukraine did not exclude the possibility of buying a certain volume of Russian gas, but on its own conditions. Naftogaz is not satisfied with the "take-or-pay" scheme foreseen by the current contract. Besides, there is a demand not to transmit natural gas through Ukraine to the occupied territories without our consent.