Russia and Ukraine will discuss a possible...
not directly link a reduction in prices with Russia"s stake in the gas consortium.Putin said there were no proposals on the table on the principle of "you give us the pipeline and we will give you the [lower] gas prices."
Ukraine"s gas transportation system is Europe"s second largest gas pipeline network and the main route for Russian natural gas supplies to European consumers. In early 2000, Kiev and Moscow discussed the possibility of creating a gas transport consortium with the involvement of EU partners to manage and modernize Ukraine"s Soviet-era gas pipeline network.
The project was put on hold when West-leaning president Viktor Yushchenko came to power in Ukraine in 2004.
Russia has made repeated attempts to obtain a stake in the Ukrainian gas pipeline network to modernize the system and ensure uninterrupted gas supplies to Europe. Ukraine has so far resisted, saying a consortium with Russia would jeopardize its sovereignty.