KIEV, April 2 - Ukraine has signed an interim deal for cheaper supplies of gas from Russia for the next three months, providing breathing space for both sides in their protracted wrangle over pricing, Ukrainian energy officials said on Thursday.

Ukraine's energy ministry said Kiev would buy Russian gas at $248 per thousand cubic meters during the second quarter, Reuters reported.

This compares with $329 per thousand cubic meters which it has been paying under a winter package. That package, which carried a price discount of $100 per thousand cubic meters and a requirement for advance payment, expired on Tuesday.