BERLIN, April 24 - Gazprom and Naftogaz Ukrayiny have not yet started talks on the future of transit of Russian gas via Ukraine; there is only consultation on this subject, Gazprom's Deputy Chairman Alexander Medvedev told journalists in Berlin.

"The current contract is not going to be extended under these terms, even if the sun and moon were to switch places. The contract on transit via Ukraine will not be extended, but this does not mean that there will be no transit. About two years, ago Putin instructed that talks be held on gas transit via Ukraine when the contract expired," he said.