Kiev, Oct 19

Ukraine hopes to overcome disagreements and end disputes over a 10-year gas supply contract signed with Russia in 2009, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said Friday.

"If the Russian leadership agrees to make a concession on this issue, we are also ready to meet halfway," Azarov said in an interview with local TV channels.

Azarov claimed that the price pegged in the agreement between Ukraine's Naftogaz and Russia's gas giant Gazprom is "absurd" and the current contract benefits neither Kiev nor Moscow.

He explained that Ukraine will be forced to abandon the costly imports if there are no changes in the deal and Russia will lose its largest buyer of fuel.

Ukraine is already purchasing gas from Europe and making efforts to increase its own production to ease dependence on Russian gas, Azarov said.

By:IANS