The Russian and Ukrainian presidents did...
"This matter was not discussed," Shmatko said after a meeting between Dmitry Medvedev and Viktor Yanukovych, adding that it could be raised when a new Ukrainian government is formed.
Pressed by economic hardships in Ukraine, Yanukovych made clear he wanted to focus on boosting economic ties with Russia and winning a new gas deal critical for the country, which is the main transit hub on the way from Siberia to Europe.
Russian officials and gas executives have reacted skeptically to Yanukovych"s gas overtures and rejected the idea of re-negotiating gas deals.
In a recent interview with the BBC Ukrainian service, Yanukovych said the price of natural gas supplied to Ukraine by Russia must be fair for Kiev, and the issue should be discussed in a broader context involving Ukraine"s access to Russian and Central Asian gas deposits and the creation of a gas transportation consortium to manage the Ukrainian gas pipeline network.