29.01.03

Putin pleased with progress in forming gas consortium

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he is pleased with the "very rapid progress being made with the formation of a gas consortium" to run Ukraine's pipeline system.

Putin said during a meeting in Kyiv with his Ukrainian counterpart, Leonid Kuchma, that "specialists have recognized all the advantages Ukraine and Russia working jointly to create this international consortium."

"It remains to discuss the gas consortium with our partners and to promote our joint project further afield into Europe," Putin said.

Leonid Kuchma, for his part, added that the combined efforts would ensure the energy resources of Russia and the gas transportation system of Ukraine are put to effective use.

Alexei Gromov, the Russian president's spokesman, said that Kuchma met with Vagit Alekperov, the head of Russian oil major Lukoil, on Tuesday morning. Kuchma reiterated Ukraine's readiness to grant Russian oil broad access to the Ukrainian market.