ISTANBUL, June 8 - Ukraine is interested in acquiring oil and gas producing assets in Russia in exchange for letting Russian energy companies drill offshore the Black Sea, President Viktor Yanukovych said Tuesday.

Yanukovych met Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Tuesday in Istanbul to convey his idea of swapping the assets.

“We would like you to see us as partners not only in gas transportation and consumption, but also in join production,” Yanukovych told Putin, according to the presidential pres service.