U.S. in energy talks with Ukraine

KIEV, Ukraine, May 24 (UPI) -- A U.S. official expressed interest in assisting Ukraine with energy security matters, Ukrainian ministers said during bilateral talks in Kiev.

Richard Morningstar, the U.S. envoy for Eurasian energy, met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kostiantyn Gryshchenko to discuss the strategic partnership between the two countries.

The Foreign Ministry said Morningstar expressed Washington's interest in providing technical assistance in the Ukrainian energy sector, the National News Agency of Ukraine reports.

Kiev is struggling to improve its image as a natural gas transit nation for European consumers. About 80 percent of European gas from Russian travels through Soviet-era pipelines in Ukraine.

Kiev in April negotiated a deal for a 30 percent discount in natural gas prices from Russia. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, in the wake of the April deal, suggested merging Russian gas monopoly Gazprom with Ukraine's energy company Naftogaz.

Gazrpom cut gas supplies briefly to Ukraine most recently in January 2009 following disputes over contracts and debt.

Kiev has bristled at the idea of a merger.

Morningstar also followed up on an April agreement from Kiev to eliminate its stockpile of weapons-grade nuclear material.