Russia's energy giant Gazprom and Ukraine's national oil and gas company, Naftogaz, signed an agreement to set up a consortium to manage and develop Ukraine's gas pipeline system in 2002. The participation of some European countries, including Germany and Poland, in the consortium was also discussed.
"Yushchenko highlighted the importance of resuming work on the formation of a Ukrainian-German-Russian gas transportation consortium and the participation of German partners in the use of Ukraine's underground gas storage facilities," the presidential press service said after Yushchenko's telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Yushchenko repeatedly spoke about the involvement of the European Union in the project.
Ukrainian Fuel and Energy Minister Yuriy Boiko said in early September that a decision on the gas transportation consortium will be made in October.
