KYIV, Nov 26 – The government would be able to finance major social programs from natural gas proceeds if Ukraine receives a discounted gas price from Russia, Minister of Energy and Environment Protection of Ukraine Oleksiy Orzhel said.

Gas will be offered to end consumers at the market price, and the difference between it and the discount price offered by Gazprom will be sent to the implementation of socially important measures, including subsidizing unprotected consumers.