However, several factors which are essentially outside of the Ukrainian authorities’ control, such as the building of alternative pipelines in Europe and the development of new technologies, might put into question the planned upgrading of existing facilities or their extension. For example, a combination of political and economic factors has prompted Gazprom, the Russian gas monopoly, to diversify its gas export routes, which circumvent Ukraine’s territory. Moreover, since future trends in gas supply and demand are increasingly uncertain, the demand for gas transit services on Ukrainian territory may become less favourable in the horizon of 5 to 10 years.