MOSCOW, March 1 - Gazprom will seek to sign direct contracts with Ukrainian consumers of natural gas in a move that mat eventually replace RosUkrEnergo, a well-connected gas trader, from the business, a Gazprom official said.

Gazprom Deputy Chairman Valery Golubev said this will be possible after gas prices in Ukraine grow at the same rate as in Russia itself to reach the same level of profitability with Europe by 2011.