<p>The bill, which won 430 votes, with 226 needed for approval, has been interpreted by many as a move to ensure Russian gas giant Gazprom does not gain control of Ukraine's gas pipeline system.<br /><br />Recent reports coming from Russia suggested that Moscow and Kiev might form a consortium deal that would have given Russian energy companies powers over Ukrainian infrastructure. However, this new law would seem to end such a possibility.<br /><br />Over the last 18 months, Moscow has successfully leveraged its natural resources to gain control of smaller neighbors' transit infrastructures as an aggressive strategy to safeguard the security of its supplies to the west.<br /><br />However, similar moves in the Ukraine now seem unlikely as the new Kiev law bans the restructuring of companies running major pipelines, except to establish enterprises that are 100% owned by the state. It will also be prohibited to alienate the property of pipelines and of national oil and gas company Naftogaz Ukrainy and its subsidiaries.</p>