KIEV, June 25 - Russia’s refusal to renegotiate controversial natural gas agreements signed with Ukraine in January contradicts the “spirit of partnership and mutual respect,” President Viktor Yushchenko’s top energy security aide said Thursday.

Bohdan Sokolovskiy responded to allegations by Gazprom that it had lost 8 billion cubic meters of its gas stored in Ukrainian underground tanks, and to the refusal to renegotiate the agreements putting Ukraine at a disadvantage.