KIEV, Feb. 20 - Ukraine seeks to change the formula setting Russian natural gas prices to make sure the prices remain competitive, Andriy Kliuyev, the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, said Monday.

Kliuyev made the statement at a meeting with Sergei Naryshkin, the head of the State Duma, the lower house of Russian Parliament, amid media reports that Russia had suggested lowering the prices 10%.

“I count on both parties to overcome existing differences and come up with optimum, economically justified and just formula establishing gas prices for Ukraine,” Kliuyev said in the statement released by his press service after the meeting with Naryshkin.