Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatseniuk has proposed that German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the leaders of other EU states organize tenders to attract partners for the management of the Ukrainian Gas Transport System (GTS).

"I'm asking German Chancellor Angela Merkel and our Western partners to conduct a public contest concerning the involvement of the foreign investors in the management of [Ukraine's] GTS," he said before the opening of a government meeting on Wednesday.

As reported, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed energy security issues during a meeting on August 23.

"The participation of German energy companies in the development of the infrastructure will be welcome in Ukraine," the Ukrainian government quoted Yatseniuk as saying during the meeting, which was held in Kyiv.

Ukraine plans to prepare a tender by the end of the year to attract European and U.S. partners to manage its gas transport system (GTS) and underground gas storage facilities, Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yuriy Prodan said earlier.

Prodan added that in early September the Energy and Coal Industry Ministry plans to hold a roundtable meeting or conference to present to European and U.S. colleagues the plans on reforming the management of the gas transport system as part of the event. The ministry expects to hear comments and suggestions that may affect preparations for the tender.