(VIENNA) - Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko insisted Tuesday his country would remain a reliable energy supplier for Europe, during a one-day visit to Vienna where he met with his Austrian counterpart Heinz Fischer.

"We want to give everyone access to the energy and natural gas market," and do so with "common ground rules," Yushchenko told a joint press conference in the Austrian capital.

Fischer meanwhile described Ukraine as a "reliable energy partner and transit country," adding that "cooperation with the Ukraine should grow a little closer, better, more intensive and more concrete every year."

He noted however that EU accession for the former Soviet state was "not a matter for discussion at this point."

The European Union relies on Ukraine as a transit country for almost all its Russian gas imports.

The two heads of state also discussed an upcoming EU-Ukraine summit on September 9.

Brussels and Kiev launched negotiations in 2007 for a so-called Enhanced Agreement to increase political co-operation, trade and investment between the two sides.

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