By Nick Shchetko
KIEV, Ukraine--Ukrainian state gas firm Naftogaz said Thursday
it signed an agreement with Russia's OAO Gazprom (GAZP.RS) that
extends until the end of June discounts received over the
winter.
The agreement follows talks mediated by the European Union,
which receives around one quarter of its gas supplies from Russia,
around half of that via Ukraine.
Ukraine will pay $248 per thousand cubic meters, Naftogaz said
in a statement, a price the country's energy minister said
Wednesday would be cheaper than it pays for supplies from
Europe.
Ukrainian governments have long complained that the price set by
a 2009 contract is unfairly high. Russia has offered some temporary
discounts, but refused to alter the contract.
Talks will continue on a longer-term resolution to the dispute
in mid-April.
Write to Nick Shchetko at Nick.Shchetko@wsj.com