KYIV, Aug 13 – A group to negotiate extension of Russian gas transit via Ukraine will be set up after Ukraine forms a new government but it would be irresponsible not to have a Plan B in case no agreements are reached, Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Secretary Oleksandr Danyliuk said in a statement.

"The [Russian gas transit] contract expires on January 1. Once the new government is appointed, it will form the group and the group leader, the energy minister, will be tasked with negotiating the conclusion of a new contract or the extension of the current one," Danyliuk told BBC Ukraine in an interview published on Tuesday.