Interfax reported that Ukraine has to reduce purchases of Russian natural gas under price pressure and plans to buy 18 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia in 2013.

Mr Viktor Yanukovych president of Ukraine said at a meeting with Mr Mikhail Komissar chairman and CEO of Interfax Group and Mr Oleksandr Martynenko GD of Ukraine General Director that "Our only lever to affect the situation is to continue reducing the volumes of Russian gas purchases."

Mr Yanukovych said that gas partnership between Ukraine and Russia was different at different times but now the period is difficult and both parties are incurring losses as their relations in this area remain unregulated. Russia has already lost some revenues by not selling 23 billion cubic meters of gas on the Ukrainian market. These are Gazprom's revenue losses."

He said that the stronger the price pressure on Ukraine, the more Kyiv will be interested in diversifying gas supply sources. If Russia's price policy changes for the better for us, we might gradually restore the volume of gas purchase. Otherwise we will continue reducing the amount of purchase and looking for more beneficial alternative gas supply sources.

Mr Yuriy Boiko energy and coal industry minister of Ukraine said last week that the national energy provider Naftogaz Ukrainy's purchases from Russia's Gazprom would amount to 26 billion cubic meters in 2012 and 20 billion cubic meters in 2013.

The Ukrainian State Statistics Service said that imports of Russian gas to Ukraine amounted to 40 billion cubic meters in 2011 and its worth was USD 12.361 billion.

The 2012 gas balance states that Naftogaz will import 27 billion cubic meters and Ostchem Holding Limited a company controlled by businessman Dmytro Firtash, 8.124 billion cubic meters of gas this year.