Ukraine will allow Russia to join the international gas consortium if Moscow pledges to transit a certain volume of natural gas through its pipeline network.

Ukraine is seeking to bring its gas prices down by leasing its pipelines and reservoirs to an independent consortium. 

According President Yanukovich, the gas market needs to be demonopolized and the transit facilities have to be upgraded. 

The current contract with Russia has been too much of a burden for Kiev, with $6 billion in annual losses, reiterated the Ukrainian president. 

He is set to meet with the Russian president on March 4, 2013 in Moscow to discuss the price of future gas imports. 

Sources: http://www.lenta.ru