MOSCOW, July 17 - Russia has created all the conditions for Ukraine to buy Russian gas, so there is no need to sign any binding protocols on gas supplies for the third quarter, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters.

If the signing of such documents becomes necessary, Russia will insist that they stipulate firm obligations of all participants in negotiations: Russia's on gas supplies, Ukraine's on pumping gas into underground storage and the European Union's on provision of financing.