Ukraine has sent a request for consultations with Russia to the WTO concerning transit of Ukrainian goods through Russian territory, Russia's Economic Development Ministry said in a statement.

The request for consultations is the first step in the WTO dispute settlement process and if the consultations do not produce a settlement within 60 days, creation of an arbitration panel can be initiated.

"The consultations, which will continue over the course of 60 days, are an obligatory prejudicial dispute-settlement stage. If in the course of this time the sides do not find a mutually acceptable solution, the side that initiated the consultations has the right to demand formation of an arbitration panel. The Economic Development Ministry jointly with the interested government bodies will attentively study the Ukrainian request and the arguments contained in it," the ministry said.