KIEV, Dec. 27 - Ukraine will seek the European Union’s involvement in a joint venture to upgrade and to operate natural gas pipelines that move bulk of Russian gas to Europe, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said Friday.

Azarov complained the EU had not yet shown much interest in the joint venture, but said the situation will change soon.

“I think sooner or later – most likely sooner – they will go for negotiations and we will find solutions to all these questions,” Azarov said an interview aired by Pershiy state television on Friday.