Ukraine has rejected the increase in gas prices. Russia has almost double the rate of Russian gas supplies to the country and threatened legal action.
Ukraine’s interim PM, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, said Moscow’s hikes were “economic aggression”.
Ukaraine’s energy minister said, they would try to negotiate a gas deal. However, he warned that if talks failed Ukrainians should prepare for Russia to cut off supplies.
Moscow defend that the hike is due to Kiev’s failure to pay its bills.
Gazprom has raised the cost of gas to Ukraine by 81% to $485.50 from $268.50 for 1,000 cubic meters.