Ukraine is not to consider the issue of its withdrawal from the European Energy Community, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has said.

"Participation in the Energy Community gives Ukraine a significant advantage in its relations with the EU, and naturally we will not consider leaving it," Acting Director of the Ministry's Information Policy Department Yevhen Perebyinis told Interfax-Ukraine on Wednesday.

According to him, cooperation in the energy sector is one of the key priorities of Ukraine's relations with the EU, and Kyiv's accession to the Energy Community was a conscious decision on its path to joining the European Union.

The Foreign Ministry's spokesman assured that Ukraine was fulfilling its obligations under the Energy Community Treaty and hoped for the EU's active role in the development of clear, transparent and fair rules regulating the energy sector.

"In addition, Ukraine expects to achieve a balance between the interests of Ukraine, as the main transit country, Russia, as a major gas supplier, and the EU, as the end user," Perebyinis said.

As reported, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said earlier that Russia's participation in a consortium to manage the Ukrainian gas transport system is possible if Kyiv refuses to follow the EU's energy rules.

"An alliance between Russia and Ukraine can be possible only if Ukraine withdraws from a number of institutions, including the treaty establishing the Energy Community," he said.