Ukraine is studying the possibility of building a liquefied natural gas terminal in the Mediterranean Basin just before the Bosphorus Strait to ship the liquefied natural gas through the existing pipeline network, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has said.

"Together with our European partners we are working to be able to ship this gas through various other routes. We see the possibility of building a gas terminal in the Mediterranean Basin just before the Bosphorus, in order to avoid going through the Bosphorus," he said at the press conference in Kyiv on Friday.

According to Yanukovych, the gas pipeline network, which exists in that area, will allow Ukraine to get an additional 8 billion to 10 billion cubic meters of liquefied natural gas, if a regasification terminal is built there.

The president also noted that Ukraine was studying the possibility of its participation in the construction of a gas pipeline from Azerbaijan through Georgia and Turkey.

"In addition, we're discussing issues related to participation in the construction of a gas pipeline, which is being built from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz gas field through Georgia and Turkey, so that this pipeline could turn towards Ukraine and [the gas] could go to our underground storage facilities in the west of the country on the border with Europe," he said.

Earlier, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said that Turkey was reluctant to consider the possibility of letting tankers with liquefied gas through its straits.

In connection with this Ukraine is studying various options to supply itself with gas via terminals for its regasification.