KIEV, July 23 – Ukraine’s imports of European natural gas fell sharply earlier this month after Hungary had reduced supplies to replenish its own gas stocks, Andriy Kobolev, the head of Naftogaz Ukrayiny, said Wednesday.

Kobolev said the drop was “temporary.” Ukraine plans in September to start imports of European gas via Slovakia, what is expected to become the main route for gas imports from the EU, he said.