In a dramatic sign of improving ties, Moscow...
and the signing of the agreement on the base is an affair of bilateral nature.On gas, Ukraine will get a discount of $100 per 1,000 cu m on the price of $330 and a 30% discount on other prices.
"Discounts for Ukraine will come into effect from April this year," Yanukovych said.
The discount will apply to 30 billion cubic meters of Russian natural gas to be supplied to Ukraine in 2010 and 40 billion cubic meters in subsequent years.
Yanukovych, who was inaugurated in February, vowed during his campaign to improve relations with Russia and renegotiate the January 2009 deal on gas supplies, which increased the price Ukraine paid for Russian gas, straining the country"s troubled finances.
Ukraine asked Russia to lower the gas price to $250 or at least $260 per 1,000 cu m, Russian business papers reported on Monday.
The ex-Soviet republic currently purchases Russian natural gas at the average annual price of $337 per 1,000 cu m.