Gazprom Thursday said it was discussing forming an international joint venture with BP to sell liquefied natural gas, which the Russian energy company said could presage further co-operation with the British oil group.

Lord Browne, BP’s chief executive, held talks in Moscow Thursday with Alexei Miller, his counterpart at Gazprom, as the two companies sought ways to settle a standoff that has dogged TNK-BP, BP’s Russia venture.