Germany in March to allow Russia laying gas pipeline bypassing Ukraine – Naftogaz CEO

The pipeline bypassing Ukraine will run along the bottom of the Baltic Sea and take a share of gas transit away from the Ukrainian gas transmission system, according to Mr Kobolyev who spoke at a roundtable in Kyiv Friday, an UNIAN correspondent reports.

"According to our information, as early as in March, German government plans to grant a final permit for the construction [of Nord Stream-2]. If it happens, this will be a matter of months. We urgently need the voice of a foreign partner, and we must lobby for Ukrainian transit to remain in place," he said.

Read alsoCNBC: Ukraine 'desperately concerned' Russia could soon attack its gas pipeline – expertKobolyev also noted that the gas pipeline bypassing Ukraine would be working at full capacity, taking up volumes of gas that will be withdrawn from the Ukrainian direction.