Russia 's OAO Gazprom (GAZP.RS) and Ukraine 's Naftogaz will begin a new round of talks on creating a joint venture, the Russian gas firm said Friday.

At a meeting in Moscow , Gazprom Chief Executive Alexei Miller and Ukraine 's Energy Minister Yuri Boiko discussed "development of the strategic partnership between the two companies and opening a new round of talks on creating a joint venture," Gazprom said in a statement.

In April, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin proposed the idea of merging Gazprom and Naftogaz, angering critics in Ukraine who said the move would amount to a takeover of Naftogaz by the much larger Gazprom.

The two companies have quarreled in recent years over gas transit to Europe . Gazprom is a major gas supplier to Europe , of which most is shipped through Ukraine .

Moscow and Kiev have moved forward with a flurry of deals since Ukraine 's new, Kremlin-friendly President Viktor Yanukovich was inaugurated in February, replacing the staunchly pro-Western Viktor Yushchenko.
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