The Ukrainian government has approved a bill on introducing a state of emergency in the energy sector and a bill on operating and modernizing the Ukrainian gas transportation system (GTS) together with European and U.S. investors, Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers Ostap Semerak has said.

"The cabinet has approved the bills, and they have been registered in the Verkhovna Rada. A meeting of the parliamentary committee, which is studying these bills, is underway. The parliament may consider them at its meeting tomorrow. But everything will depend on its agenda," he told reporters after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk said earlier that the bill should lay down the procedure for introducing a state of emergency in the energy market, control mechanisms, and mechanisms for energy efficiency.

Ukraine plans to establish a joint venture with European and U.S. partners to operate and upgrade its GTS. Ukraine will have control over the joint venture.