THE HAGUE, Sept. 13 – The delay with the launch of a new reverse route for importing natural gas by Ukraine via Slovakia is mainly linked to politics, and Kiev hopes to resolve this with the help of the European Commission, Energy and Coal Industry Minister Eduard Stavytsky said.

"In my opinion, the issue mainly depends on politics. I believe that we'll settle this," the minister said at a briefing in The Hague, answering a question on the problems with the organization of the reverse gas pumping via Slovakia.