MOSCOW, Oct. 2 – Russia and Ukraine on Thursday signed a memorandum setting a three-year period for switching to market-based prices for natural gas, but failed to agree on prices that will be charged in 2009.

The memorandum, which may serve as a basis for the long-term gas supply agreement, also calls for direct supplies of gas from Gazprom to state-owned Naftogaz Ukrayiny, removing RosUkrEnergo as intermediary.