The FINANCIAL — Prime Minister Mykola Azarov rules out merger of Naftohaz Ukrainy national joint-stock company with Russia's Gazprom, he announced in an interview with 1+1 TV channel on June 20.
"There will be no merger," Azarov said.
At the same time he added, the sides would be searching for such an organisational form that would sinthesise the effect from operation of Naftohaz Ukrainy and Gazprom.
As Ukrainian News earlier reported, Naftohaz Ukrainy and Gazprom are considering the possibility of creating a joint venture in which they would own equal shares as part of consideration of the proposals to merge the two companies.
President Viktor Yanukovych said on May 13 that merger of Naftohaz Ukrainy and Gazprom was impossible, adding that Ukraine would agree to such a merger on equal terms but Russia would not.
Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin first called for merger of Naftohaz Ukrainy and Gazprom on April 30.
