KIEV, Aug. 10 - Deputy Prime Minister Serhiy Tyhypko on Friday ruled out plans for hiking natural gas prices for households, suggesting a key demand from the International Monetary Fund will not be implemented.

“There will not be any gas price hike for the people and for municipal heat producers. Period,” Tyhypko said in a statement issued by his press service.

Tyhypko responded to speculations that Ukraine may be preparing for the gas price hike as an IMF team is due to arrive next month to check the pace of economic reforms.