Interaction of the Ukrainian gas market into the world energy system (economic and legal aspects)

The article is devoted to economic and legal problems of the emergence and functioning of the gas market of Ukraine and its integration into the world market. A characteristic feature of the development of the world economy in recent years has been the intensification of competition for non-renewable resources, as evidenced by growing tensions and increasing conflicts in places of large energy deposits. Ukraine, as one of the participants in the world energy market due to its territorial position and potential, is fully involved in global processes. Trade in energy resources ranks first in value in the structure of international trade. Compared to other markets, the world energy market is more dependent on the world economy, demographic situation, geopolitical situation, emergencies. Changes and shocks in the world economy immediately affect primarily energy markets. Despite the slowdown (and in some cases stagnation) rates of economic growth in developed countries with market economies in the late first - early second decade of the XXI century, global energy demand continues to grow. In recent years, the annual increase in primary energy consumption was 2.4%, less than 1% in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the rest of the increase came from developing countries and emerging markets. Although the share of oil compared to other energy sources, despite a steady decline in recent years, remains the largest, but, according to experts, due to declining demand for nuclear energy, as well as a number of other factors, natural gas can play a leading role in global energy market. In this regard, it is of scientific and practical interest to the emergence and development of the gas market of Ukraine. The analysis of the origin and functioning of the gas industry in Ukraine is carried out in the work. The paper proves that the development of the gas industry in Ukraine is the oldest in Europe and began after the First World War. In 1922, one of the world's first Dashava-Stry gas pipelines was built. In 1975, production reached a record high - 68.7 billion m3, but at the same time, there was a gradual depletion of deposits. Currently, natural gas production has stabilized at 20 billion m3. Currently, the largest producer of natural gas is PJSC «Ukrgazvydobuvannya». Ukraine lacks its own extracted gas. The needs of this energy resource are much higher, and it takes time and investment to switch to alternative energy sources. Therefore, today, our country is largely dependent on imports of natural gas and other energy products