Ukrainian parliament backs bill to open gas pipelines to EU, U.S. firms

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council at the Black Sea Fleet headquarters in the Crimean port of Sevastopol, August 13, 2014. REUTERS/Alexei Nikolsky/RIA Novosti/Kremlin

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine's parliament approved a law on Thursday to allow gas transit facilities to be leased on a joint venture basis with participation from firms in the European Union or United States.

Ukraine will hold 51 percent and foreign partners will be offered 49 percent in the venture, which would manage both transit pipelines and underground gas storage facilities.