KIEV, April 26 - Ukraine does not intend to fulfill the International Monetary Fund demand it raise the gas price for the population, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov told journalists in Kiev on Thursday.

"Negotiations were held on the execution of the program that was signed with the IMF, and the fund understands perfectly well that when the global economy is in such an unstable phase, it can't require that Ukraine tighten its belt even further and create a crisis at home. The IMF understands this," he said, commenting on the results of negotiations between the Ukrainian delegation and the IMF.