Ukraine"s new leader Viktor Yanukovych will...

Yanukovych is seeking to revise a long-term gas deal signed by ex-premier Yulia Tymoshenko and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in early 2009, which made Russian gas expensive for Ukraine, further straining the country"s meager finances.

In return for cheaper gas, Ukraine wants to offer Russia a stake in its gas transportation system, which currently accounts for about 80% of Russian natural gas exports to Europe.

Ukraine"s Fuel and Energy Minister Yuriy Boiko flew to Moscow on Tuesday to discuss gas issues with Russian officials.

According to the poll conducted in Ukraine in March, only 40.5% of respondents welcomed the idea of a gas consortium with Russia. 23.3% opposed the move.

Tymoshenko, who currently leads the Ukrainian opposition, has criticized the idea, saying the transfer of the national gas transportation network would betray national interests.

As many as 70.6% of Ukrainians fully support the need to review the gas deal with Russia,

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