Russia may take part in Ukraine's GTS consortium if Kyiv doesn't join EU energy rules - Medvedev

The issue of taking part in a consortium to manage Ukraine's gas transmission system is not topical for Russia, and Moscow will look into this issue if its interests in this project will be well ensured, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has said.

"Ukrainians should understand themselves what they need. If they need this consortium, either bilateral or trilateral, they should make us interested in taking part in it," Medvedev said. As for an acceptable way of participating in the management of Ukraine's GTS, Medvedev said: "For us it is not what is called a must, this is not what we are seeking immediately." This proposal will be interesting to Russia, "if we understand that our interests - the ones of Gazprom and the state in general - are guaranteed there [in the consortium]," he said. "An alliance between Russia and Ukraine may exist only if Ukraine leaves a large number of institutions, including the agreement on joining the [European] Energy Charter," he said.