KIEV, April 21 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich and Russia's Dmitry Medvedev are expected to reach a "conclusive agreement" on a new gas price at their talks in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday, said Deputy Prime Minister Sergey Tigipko.
"As I understand it, a conclusive agreement about the gas price will be made," Tigipko told reporters in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev.
"If the presidents today agree on an average price (per month) of $240 (per thousand cubic metres) for the year, then with this price it will not be necessary to raise the price of gas in the communal sector and for the population," he said.
The current agreement between the two countries forsees Ukraine paying an average price of $334 per tcm for gas from Russia, which the Ukrainian government says would have a disastrous effect on the economy.
Ukraine’s monthly gas price in the first quarter of 2010 was $305 per tcm and in the second quarter $330 per tcm. Ukraine agreed to import 36.5 billion cubic metres of gas this year.
