KIEV, Jan. 19 – The construction of gas pipelines bypassing Ukraine – the Nord Stream and South Stream projects – will not affect the role of the Ukrainian gas transportation system in transiting gas to Europe, according to Oleksandr Todyichuk, the president of Q-club Kiev International Energy Club.

"There are rumors that with the realization of Nord Stream and South Stream, the importance of Ukrainian gas pipelines would disappear. This is a lie used to diminish the value of the Ukrainian gas transportation system if there is talk about it being bought out," he said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine.