KIEV, Aug. 16 - The negative balance of the bilateral trade between Ukraine and Russia was caused primarily by inflated prices for Russian natural gas, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said.

"Roughly speaking, each month we are overpaying substantial sums, which certainly affects the level of our bilateral relations. This is why we are working to review the gas supply conditions. The trade and economic relations must be mutually profitable," he said in Kiev on Tuesday.