Reuters: A gas deal between Azerbaijan and Europe is not in sight

European companies are not nearing a deal to replace Russian gas imports via Ukraine with supply from Azerbaijan, Slovak state-owned gas buyer SPP said, dismissing a media report that said a deal was close.

The current five-year deal between Moscow and Kyiv on Russian gas exports via Ukraine to Europe expires at the end of the year, forcing the European Union to search for alternative sources of gas, including from Azerbaijan, while engaging in talks to keep the route open.

“We regularly discuss the topic with our partners, but the information about the upcoming conclusion of a gas supply contract with the participation of SPP is not true,” SPP told Reuters in a statement.

Ukraine state energy firm Naftogaz did not respond to a request for comment, while an energy industry source in Ukraine dismissed the report.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was also skeptical about a deal.

“How events will continue to unfold, how supplies will continue to be ensured, taking into account the fact that Ukraine has already announced its refusal to extend this agreement, now I can’t say anything,” he said.