ODESSA, Nov. 17 - It is premature to speak about changing the price paid by Ukraine for Russian gas exports until the two countries' talks are completed, President Viktor Yanukovych said.

"We are through a complicated negotiating process with Russia as partners. There is a great desire on both sides to find this solution, and it is too early to talk about a price so far. I want to say that we have come very close to sorting out this issue, but this process has not been finalized yet. It is continuing," he told journalists in Odessa on Thursday.