AP: Russia says gas price discounts to Ukraine possible only if its joins Moscow-led alliance

A top Russian official said Saturday Ukraine will continue paying a high price for natural gas imports unless it joins a Moscow-dominated alliance .Kyiv, which relies on Russian natural gas for most of its energy needs, has long been courting Moscow to get a discount for gas imports since a 2009 agreement significantly increased the price for the gas Ukraine receives from Russia.

Russia's deputy prime minister, Arkady Dvorkovich, told in international conference in the Ukrainian Black Sea city of Yalta that Ukraine may expect a discount only if it joins a Russia-dominated economic alliance. Ukraine has resisted such Russian overtures, fearing that membership in the Moscow-led Customs Union would scuttle its hopes of closer ties with the EU.  MORE