KIEV, Sept. 10 - Naftogaz Ukrayiny has officially asked Russia's Gazprom to reduce the volume of natural gas it exports to Ukraine to 33 billion cubic meters in 2010 from the 52 bcm initially envisioned in next year's contract.

Anatoly Podmyshalsky, head of Gazprom's department for work with CIS countries, told journalists in Kiev on Thursday that the companies are currently looking at different options for the reduction in supplies.