SIMFEROPOL, Dec. 24 - Russia and Ukraine have signed a contract which provides for the supply of Crimea with electricity produced in Russia through the territory of Ukraine, the head of the Republic of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov said.

"The information is unambiguous: yesterday a contract was signed by the government of the Russian Federation with regard to the guarantee of electricity supplies to the territory of the [Crimean] peninsula. The electricity supplies will be from the territory of the Russian Federation, Ukraine will only carry out only transportation," Aksyonov said at a press conference in Simferopol on Tuesday.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters an agreement on electricity supply to Ukraine might be signed by the end of the year.