Ukraine now controls less than half of? Russia's gas transit to? Europe, a change to? a system that existed for? decades.
About 42 percent of? Gazprom's gas traveled through Ukraine in? the first 10 days of? this year, Interfax reported, citing data from? domestic and? European control rooms.
Gazprom built up its traffic via Belarus, where it took full control of? the transit pipeline last year. With its partners, it also completed the? second phase of? the Nord Stream pipeline to? Germany? under the? Baltic Sea in? November.
Ukraine's share of? the transit to? Europe stood at? 63 percent in? the first quarter of? 2011, Interfax said. It slipped to? 56 percent in? the? first quarter of? 2012.
(MT)