KIEV, Dec. 13 - Prime Minister Mykola Azarov on Tuesday for the first time admitted that Ukraine may be forced to pay high prices for Russian natural gas next year, a sign that gas talks are in trouble.

Azarov’s comment is the government’s first official reaction to a statement by Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller on Monday that there will be no agreement on gas prices this year.

“The next year’s budget must be realistic,” Azarov told reporters. “This means that if we have to pay $400 [per 1,000 cubic meters] for gas then we have to pay. There is no other choice.”