KIEV, July 22 – Ukraine should launch direct pumping at the Odessa-Brody oil pipeline as soon as possible to cut dependence on Russian oil supplies, according to Oleksandr Todyichuk, the coordinator of the fulfillment of a Ukraine-EU memo on cooperation in the energy sector and the president of Kiev-based Q-club international energy club.

"Ukraine should protect itself and launch direct pumping on the Odessa-Brody pipeline as soon as possible, as Russia's actions in cutting off supplies of energy to neighboring countries are now of a systematic character. Apart from the Poles, the Belarusans, the Lithuanians and other problems with supplies of Russian energy, the Czechs are now having problems," he said.