Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's office says he will meet with his Ukrainian counterpart for talks expected to focus on energy issues, according to AP. Ukraine has sought to review a deal from last year to lower the price for natural gas it imports from Russia. It has suggested it could offer Moscow a share in its gas pipelines network in exchange. Putin is set to meet with Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov later Thursday. Last year's gas deal followed a pricing dispute that saw Russian state-controlled Gazprom gas monopoly cut supplies to EU nations through Ukraine for two weeks. Ukraine's newly-elected President Viktor Yanukovich has promised to improve ties with Russia that worsened under his pro-Western predecessor who sought to take Ukraine into NATO and the European Union.
