Dmitriy Firtash, the powerful Ukrainian gas magnate who co-owns the gas intermediary RosUkrEnergo, told journalists May 18 that he doubts Hazftogaz Ukrayiny and Gazprom will be merged. "I do not think that will happen...Just calculate how much Gazprom is worth and how much Naftogaz is worth...It is clear they [Russian authorities] have imperial ambitions, but they want an acquisition, and so I do not think it will happen", Firtash said.
At the same time, he stressed that it would be impossible to merge the two companies on an equal basis, because Russia would never accept that.
