KIEV, Nov. 27 - Russian natural gas giant Gazprom has suggested a formula for calculating future gas prices for Ukraine, a move that may finally end the political component in price talks, a senior official said Wednesday.

For the past five years Ukraine has been pressing to switch to formula-based gas prices as opposed to holding annual negotiations with Russia over prices that had often led to sharp disputes.

“For the first time we have received a formula from Gazprom,” Oleh Dubyna, the head of aftogaz Ukrayiny, the national oil and gas company, said at an energy conference.