OREANDA-NEWS. September 17, 2013. Every day of a one-side, enslaving gas agreement moves Ukraine away from Russia. This was started by Prime Minister Mykola Azarov in the Netherlands, commenting signed operating agreement with Royal Dutch Shell.

“Every day, while there is unequal gas agreement with Russia, moves Ukraine away from Russia," Mykola Azarov said.

At the same time the Head of the Government stressed that in terms of the strategic partnership temporarily received one-sided advantage can not build a long term relationship.

According to Mykola Azarov, the gas contract is a constant irritant in Russian-Ukrainian relations. Therefore, Ukraine has no other way than to seek partners to diversify energy supplies and implement programs for energy efficiency and energy substitution.

Recall that on the September 12, 2013 during a trip of Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov to the Netherlands an operating Agreement on distribution of hydrocarbon extracted in Yuzivska area was signed between the Government of Ukraine and the Royal Dutch Shell.

The Agreement allows Royal Dutch Shell, in fact, to start works already from today. According to the signed Agreement on distribution of production, at the first stage the Royal Dutch Shell will invest into geoexploration around USD 500 mln, while overall investments of the company into industrial and communication development in the Yuzivska area are estimated to the tune of USD 10 bln. Traditional natural gas, shale gas and gas from tight sandstones as well there will be extracted in the Yuzivska area. The first free gas from Yuzivska area is expected in the end of 2014.

Yuzivska area is situated on the territory of Donetsk and Kharkiv regions. On the Royal Dutch Shell expert forecasts, the predictable gas storages make up 3-3.5 trillion cubic meters.