"If we do not comply with the arbitration, we will have a lawsuit from Gazprom and we will be forced to pay it a considerable amount," the expert explains.

Five billion is only one-sixth of the total gas consumed by Ukrainians per year. This will not create the effect of Ukraine's critical dependence on Gazprom.

"It would be optimal to buy gas not at the peak of its cost in the winter, but after the heating season, when the price decreases. It could then be used during the heating season 2018-2019.

In Russia, they decided to move to a strategy of encouraging buyers to buy more Russian gas. Thus, on the European market Gazprom has significantly reduced prices. This may be a kind of game to encourage Ukraine to buy gas not only in the volumes established by the Stockholm arbitration, but also to continue cooperation. It can then be packaged into some kind of new political scheme.

We need to minimize the volume of gas purchases from Russia. And to keep a clear position: no cooperation can be possible as long as Russia occupies the Crimea and Donbass" - the expert added.