KIEV, Dec. 19 - The price for Russian natural gas supplies to Ukraine must drop to $100 per 1,000 cubic meters in 2009 from $179.5/1,000 cu m in 2008 reflecting crude oil price decline, President Viktor Yushchenko’s office said Friday.

“Energy resources prices decline on world markets, that’s why the economically justified price for natural gas should be at $100/1,000 cu m,” Iryna Vannikova, Yushchenko’s spokeswoman, said at a press conference.