Speaking to the lower house of parliament, Industry and Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko said: "VTB's deal to buy 5% in EADS is a financial transaction, and whether it will develop into a strategic one remains to be seen. Perhaps it will lead to an equally simple financial operation - the sale of the shares on more profitable terms."
In September, President Vladimir Putin said VTB may transfer its stake in the European aerospace and arms giant to Russia's new United Aircraft Building Corporation - a state-controlled group set up to consolidate major domestic aircraft assets - if the sides agree to give a larger share of Airbus contracts to Russian manufacturers.
EADS recently increased its share in Airbus to 100%.
VTB's share purchase, announced in early September, raised concerns that Russia may seek to boost its interest in EADS to gain more influence on the European aerospace market.
Putin addressed the issue during recent talks with his French counterpart, Jacques Chirac, and Germany's Angela Merkel. He assured them it was "not a sign of aggression," and that Russia would not use Vneshtorgbank's stake to "change anything in any way" in EADS.
The Russian president also suggested the stake purchase be "a financial market game" for Vneshtorgbank, which had taken advantage of a drop in the EADS share prices over news of delays in supplying 'superjumbo' A380 airliners to customers.
