Ukraine signs deal with Russia for cheaper gas supply

Ukraine has signed an interim deal for cheaper supplies of gas from Russia for the next three months, Ukrainian energy officials said yesterday.

Previous gas disputes between Ukraine and Russia have affected the EU, where Russia’s Gazprom covers a third of gas demand. Around 40% of that gas travels via Ukraine.

The lower agreed price at the start of the off-season, when consumption is much reduced because of warmer weather, had been heavily flagged by Moscow and came as no surprise for Ukrainian energy officials who saw it as reflecting lower global oil prices.