KIEV, Feb. 26 – Ukraine will seek to reduce imports of natural gas from Russia this year as economic contraction and industrial production slump cut demand, a top aide to President Viktor Yushchenko said Thursday.

Naftogaz Ukrayiny is seeking to reduce gas imports in 2009 by 17.5% to 33 billion cubic meters, down from 40 billion cubic meters, Bohdan Sokolovskiy said in comments posted by Yushchenko’s press service.