This file photo taken on Aug 5, 2014 shows a partial view of a compressor station of Ukraine's Naftogaz national oil and gas company near the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. (PHOTO / AFP)

KYIV/MOSCOW - Ukraine is not planning to extend the natural gas transit contract with Russia after 2024, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported Thursday, citing the government press service.

"The position of the Ukrainian side is clear: the transportation contract ends at the end of this year, we are not going to negotiate with the Russians and extend the contract," the press service said.

However, Ukraine can negotiate with European Union countries about using its gas transportation system, it said.

Moscow is well aware that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is conducting its large-scale "Steadfast Defender 2024" drills to counter Russia, local media reported Thursday, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov

Ukraine's state-run energy company Naftogaz and Russia's gas giant Gazprom signed a gas transportation agreement in December 2019. The contract envisages that Ukraine would transit 40 billion cubic meters of Russian gas per year during the 2021-2024 period.

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Last year, Russia's gas transit via Ukraine was down by 28.4 percent to 14.646 million cubic meters. 

Moscow ‘well aware’ of NATO drills

Moscow is well aware that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is conducting its large-scale "Steadfast Defender 2024" drills to counter Russia, local media reported Thursday, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

"The exercises are quite unprecedented," said Peskov, adding that NATO is not trying to hide the fact that the exercises are postured against Russia.

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"Actually, we have never worn rose-colored glasses. We know what NATO's military infrastructure is," he added.

On Wednesday, NATO kicked off the "Steadfast Defender 2024" exercises, its largest military drills in decades, which will take place in several locations, with associated exercises running until May 31.

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"It will show that NATO can conduct and sustain complex multi-domain operations over several months, across thousands of kilometers, from the High North to Central and Eastern Europe, and in any conditions," NATO noted.