KIEV, Dec. 3 - Ukraine hopes that negotiations with Russia on a reduction in the price of natural gas will be successfully completed by the end of the year, but even if they fail, the country will manage to achieve a reduction in the cost of natural gas next year by 10-15%, Energy and Coal Industry Minister Eduard Stavytsky said.

"I'm confident that next year we will be able to reduce the price by 10-15%, and this is not only due to negotiations with Russia," he said in an interview with Channel 5.