KIEV, Oct. 22 - Ukraine suspended imports of European natural gas via Poland in October and reduced by half imports via Hungary after Russia lowered its gas supply prices, an official said Tuesday.

Ukraine has been importing European gas since November 2012 in line with a contract with RWE of Germany seeking to reduce dependence on the Russian energy.

European gas prices were lower by about $60 per each 1,000 cubic meters compared with those charged by Russia through most of the year, according to Ukrainian officials. But that had changed in October.