KIEV, Dec. 18 - Ukraine and Russia will now focus on talks to set up a joint venture to manage the country’s natural gas pipelines after signing a deal to lower gas prices, Energy and Coal Industry Minister Eduard Stavytskiy said Wednesday.

President Viktor Yanukovych discussed the joint venture with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday, but no agreement had been reached.

“We will continue the discussions,” Stavytskiy said at a press conference.