Ukrainian News Agency reported that Russia Gazprom gas monopoly and the Naftohaz Ukrainy national oil and gas company have agreed to increase imports of Russian natural gas to Ukraine in 2010 by 8.3% or by 2.8 billion cubic meters in comparison with previous agreements to 36.5 billion cubic meters.

Ukrainian Fuel and Energy Ministry said in a statement that "The parties have agreed to increase the volume of purchases of natural gas by the Ukrainian party from 33.7 to 36.5 billion cubic meters in 2010."

The press service of the Ukrainian ministry notes that the agreement was a result of the negotiations between Fuel and Energy Minister Mr Yurii Boiko, Naftohaz Ukrainy CEO Mr Yevhen Bakulin and Gazprom CEO Mr Alexei Miller in the frames of the working visit of Boiko to Moscow.

The parties also discussed measures to secure stable supplies of natural gas to Ukraine and Europe.

As Ukrainian News earlier reported, Ukraine wants to change the gas contracts with Russia and to cut the price of natural gas imported to Ukraine.

(Sourced from Ukrainian News Agency)