KIEV, Feb. 27 ??“ Slovakia is ready to increase imports of electricity from Ukraine by four times, to 2 billion kWh per year, Deputy Fuel and Energy Minister Volodymyr Luchnikov said after the meeting of the premiers of Ukraine and Slovakia held in Kiev on Monday.

He said that Ukraine and Slovakia could jointly finance the building of DC links at the Zakhidno-Ukrainska substation, which would allow the supply of electricity from the Ukrainian power grid to Slovakia. The creation of DC links would increase Ukraine's export potential to the west by 600 MW, he said.