Russia, Ukraine to stick to gas deal

Russia and Ukraine will honor the current bilateral gas contracts until new agreements are signed, Russian gas monopoly Gazprom said on Tuesday. The statement came after a meeting between Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller and Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuriy Boyko in Moscow. "Until new agreements are reached the parties will adhere to the existing gas supply and transit contracts," the company said. Ukraine is seeking to review gas deals with Russia, saying the 2009 contract's gas price formula is unfair. Moscow has tied gas prices to international oil prices, which have risen significantly since 2009, boosting Ukraine's bill. Earlier on Tuesday, a Kiev court sentenced former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymosheko to seven years in prison for signing the gas deal with Russia.