The issue of setting up a consortium for the management of Ukraine's gas transportation system should be considered only with the participation of Brussels, Leader of the UDAR Party Vitali Klitschko has said.

"As regards the gas transportation system and the consortium, this issue should be considered not in the political plane, but from an economic point of view, and only with the participation of Europe. There can be no other opinion," he said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

When asked whether he has ever met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Klitschko said: "I met with him at Laureus Sports Awards in St. Petersburg. I'm a member of the supervisory board of Laureus Sports Awards, and Putin was present at the ceremony. We saw each other behind the scenes for a few seconds, he said that he had been watching and keeping his fingers crossed and wished me good luck."