Russia agrees to allow Ukraine to import less gas

In talks in Poland yesterday, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko agreed with her Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to import less natural gas than previously arranged without financial penalty, various news agencies reported. Tymoshenko has said that Ukraine needs about 28 bln m3 of gas this year, vs. 40 bln m3 Ukraine agreed to buy in January. Both leaders said that Ukraine would only pay for gas it receives from Russia this year, without specifying a specific amount.