MOSCOW, April 4 - Ukraine has asked for 1 billion cubic meters of gas imports from Russia in April, trebling the amount it received in March, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Saturday, Reuters reported.

On Thursday, Ukraine's state gas concern Naftogaz and Russia's Gazprom 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.