KIEV, Jan. 9 - Ukraine suspended imports of natural gas from Europe after Russia had agreed to lower its gas prices by 33% in January, Energy and Coal Industry Minister Eduard Stavytskiy said Thursday.

Russia’s Gazprom lowered its gas price on supplies to Ukraine to $268.5 per 1,000 cubic meters in the first quarter, down from an average of $402/1,000 cu m charged in 2013.