BRUSSELS, May 7 – The European Union continues insisting on a trilateral format of the gas transportation consortium on the management of the Ukrainian GTS, saying that three parties have an interest in the future of the Ukrainian GTS – namely Ukraine, Russia and the EU.

"Three parties have an interest in the future of the Ukrainian GTS – namely Ukraine, Russia and the EU. Russia's gas supply to the EU is still transited mainly through Ukraine. Out of the 138 billion cubic meters of gas that was exported to Europe in 2012, Ukraine transited around 84 billion cubic meters. We should therefore all discuss together the concerns of each party and try to find the optimal, mutually beneficial solution rather than for one or other party to promote a bilateral approach that excludes one of the interested parties," EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger said.