SEVASTOPOL, May 7 - Russian ambassador to Ukraine Mikhail Zurabov said that after the decision to prolong the duration of the stay of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Ukraine the amount of rent went up to $1.8 billion a year.

"I cannot agree with the politicians who say that there was a fleet-for-gas swap. That is not so. It was decided to significantly increase the amount of rent for the presence of the Russian fleet and it now amounts to approximately $1.8 billion a year," he told the press in Sevastopol after meeting Valery Saratov, head of the Sevastopol city administration.