ASHGABAT, Oct. 26 ??“ Ukraine, which has been for years seeking to reduce dependence on Russian energy, admitted on Wednesday it will have to secure Russia??™s approval to a plan to double gas imports from Turkmenistan.

Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov, on a two-day visit to Ashgabat, said signing a 25-year natural gas supply agreement with Turkmenistan depends on whether Russia has spare pipeline capacity.