Mr Sechin was commenting on a proposal made by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, the Czech Republic, now presiding in the European Union, Sweden, which will subsequently assume presidency of the EU, and Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.
"If our proposal is accepted, and if Europe is interested in organising a loan for Ukraine, then Russia will study the possibility of joining the pool," the Deputy Prime Minister said.
Mr Sechin quoted analysts as saying that Ukraine would require a $4.2 billion loan to buy 19.5 billion cubic metres of natural gas for pumping inside underground reservoirs. He said Gazprom had already paid Naftogaz Ukraine for European gas transits in advance, and that Ukraine had an opportunity to finance Russian gas purchases under this plan. "However, Gazprom is now facing much greater risks during the implementation of this plan," Mr Sechin stressed.
The Deputy Prime Minister said Gazprom had already paid in advance for gas transits worth $2.15 billion until February 2010. "The plan's subsequent implementation is fraught with additional risks," Mr Sechin said.
The risks are linked with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko's statements about the inadmissibility of advance payments, Mr Sechin said. President Yushchenko has also said he would appeal the national Government's actions in the Constitutional Court, if the Cabinet passes the relevant resolution.
Another risk factor is the March 23 Brussels declaration that calls for possible changes in the system for managing the Ukrainian gas transport system and its tariff policy. The issue of setting up the international pool is being discussed, Mr Sechin said. The Deputy Prime Minister added that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi had already expressed his support for the Russian proposal, and that he suggested that it be discussed at an upcoming EU summit. Moreover, some European companies, including ENI, Gaz de France and E.ON, are ready to discuss their possible involvement in the pool.
Mr Sechin discussed specific deadlines for solving the problem and noted that in previous years Ukraine usually started pumping gas inside its reservoirs every April. "As of late May, this work has not started yet. Consequently, more sustained wintertime gas transits would be ensured if they start pumping gas inside reservoirs as soon as possible," the Deputy Prime Minister said.
Mr Sechin said the Russian proposal was based on reports concerning the present-day state of cooperation with Ukraine and was also motivated by the request of the Ukrainian Government and Naftogaz to receive the required amount of natural gas for pumping inside underground reservoirs.