Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said...

Ukraine"s leader is due in the Russian capital on Friday, his second foreign trip as president following Monday"s talks with the leadership of the European Union in Brussels, where the gas issue was also discussed.

In an interview with the BBC Ukrainian service, Yanukovych said the price of natural gas supplied to Ukraine by Russia must be fair for Kiev, and the issue should be discussed in a broader context involving Ukraine"s access to Russian and Central Asian gas deposits and the creation of a gas transportation consortium to manage the Ukrainian gas pipeline network.

Yanukovych said Ukraine wanted to be a full-fledged partner in all gas issues with both Russia and the European Union.

Yanukovych, who was inaugurated on February 25, said during his election campaign that he would seek better terms for Kiev in gas contracts signed with Moscow last year.

Russia and Ukraine have long fought over natural gas deliveries, jeopardizing supplies to Europe,

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