Ukraine will take any decision on creation of a joint international gas transportation company with Russia only with the understanding and support of Ukrainian society for its national interests, Ukrainian fuel and energy minister Yuri Boiko said on Tuesday.
Ukraine is currently examining Russian proposals for creation of such a company, which would utilise the Ukrainian gas transport system, Boiko said in Istanbul, during a summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia.
"On the Russian side, there is production activity, and sources of gas, and on the Ukrainian side, the gas transport system, the export part," Boiko said.
Ukraine is studying the Russian proposals, Boiko said, but declined to comment further on them until the process was complete.
"In any case, there won't be a decision until it is discussed in society with an understanding that it will completely guarantee our national interest," he said.
KIEV, 8 June (RIA Novosti)
