Gas Agreement Between Ukraine and Russia Delayed

Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has said that a new gas agreement between Russia and Ukraine may take up to one month to be revised.

The prime minister had originally estimated the talks to be completed by October 27.

Speaking on Ukrainian national television, Prime Minister Azarov said that he expected that the new deal would be completed by November 26.

"We count on having the agreement with Russia literally within a month," he said. 

Minister Azarov also criticised the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has been pressuring Ukraine to raise its prices for gas supply to Ukrainian citizens.

"What the IMF has been demanding? It says we have to hike gas tariffs for the people," he said. "But the people do not agree with this, so we are going to tell the IMF that we are implementing all measures they as creditors have requested, but there are the limits."