KIEV, Oct. 27 - Russia and Ukraine on Wednesday failed to agree on reducing natural gas prices amid reports that Moscow is insisting on getting control over Ukraine’s natural gas pipelines.

Natural gas issues were in the focus of talks between Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Mykola Azarov, but the parties had failed to make significant progress.

Putin said Russia has earlier this year provided Ukraine with 30% discount on its gas price, or about $100 per every 1,000 cubic meters of gas, and more talks had been needed for a possible additional discount.

“The prices have been lowered or Ukrainian consumers as a result of the Kharkiv agreement [in April],” Putin said after the talks. “We are ready to further continue the dialog in all directions.”

The comments suggest that Ukraine has refused to make political concessions in the talks with Russia, in particular in giving Russia control over the country’s natural gas pipelines.