You're reading: Yanukovych goes to Turkmenistan seeking gas

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has traveled to energy-rich fellow former Soviet nation Turkmenistan in search of new natural gas supplies as his country's relations with traditional provider Russia continue to sour.

Yanukovych said Monday that he wanted to resume full cooperation between Ukraine and Turkmenistan in the oil and gas sector, alluding to previously existing gas purchase contracts between the two countries.

Ukraine is piling pressure on Russia to reduce prices for its gas. It now pays about $355 per 1,000 cubic meters of Russian gas, but wants to have that price lowered to $230.

Turkmenistan and Ukraine do not share a border, which means that any gas deliveries would have to pass through Russia, greatly complicating any prospective agreement.