KIEV, March 24 - Ukraine is in talks with a major European energy company over management of its vast natural gas transportation system that moves Russian gas to Europe, according to Andriy Kobolev, the head of Naftogaz Ukrayiny.

An agreement with the company would help save the pipelines from decommissioning if Russia decides to move its gas via alternative pipelines after a 10-year transit contract expires in 2019.