Ukraine, Russia approve gas export deal

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Saturday Russia agreed to continue gas exports during the coming winter season.
Ukraine agreed to pay USD 385 for every 1,000 cubic feet of Russia gas, Poroshenko was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying, alluding to talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Italian city of Milan yesterday.
He said this agreement would continue until end of next March, But added that Russia refused to reduce gas prices during summer to USD 325.
He meanwhile said Ukrainian authorities would take what he called "practical measures" to enforce the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine.
Poroshenko said observers from the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) would be using reconnaissance planes to monitor the ceasefire.
He warned that the authorities in Kiev would not recognize any elections held in the eastern provinces without the Ukrainian government's consent.
Poroshenko said eastern provinces would not be able to meet their economic needs without help of authorities in Kiev.