Ukrainian Journal cited a source familiar with the issue said Ukraine will try to accelerate talks with Russia aimed at lower natural gas prices by sending a high-level team of negotiators to Moscow.

The source said “Ukraine plans to accelerate the talks, adding that a expanded team of Ukrainian negotiators was due to arrive in Moscow on Monday.”

A spokesman at the Ukrainian government was not available to confirm the report on Sunday.

Mr Kostiantyn Hryshchenko Foreign Minister said that Ukraine has been trying to reach a compromise with Russia in the gas talks, but has been also to get the European Union more active in the issue.

He said that “We must find mutual understanding with both, Russia and Europe. “How to connect this is a very complicated issue. We are working on this.”

The developments come a week after a major setback at the talks between Russia and Ukraine when Gazprom CEO Mr Alexei Miller has suddenly ruled out the possibility of reaching the agreement this month. Gazprom and Ukraine two weeks ago expected to reach the deal by the end of December.

The setback comes after Prime Minister Mr Mykola Azarov apparently after seeing the final draft of the agreement has issued his strong objections to the deal. The final draft agreement called for the creation of two 50-50 joint ventures between Gazprom and Naftogaz Ukrayiny.

One joint venture would handle transit of Russian gas to markets in Europe via Ukrainian gas transportation system, while the other one would supply gas to Ukrainian consumers Russia apparently also insisted on registering the gas transit joint venture in a third country to avoid its jurisdiction in Ukraine.

(Sourced from Ukrainian Journal)