KIEV, Oct. 28 – Russia has been seeking to hike by almost 50% prices of natural gas to be supplied to Ukraine next year, but Kiev has rejected the dramatic hike as politically motivated.

Russia has apparently suggested boosting the price up to $200 per 1,000 cubic meters in 2008, compared with $135/1,000 cu m in 2007, but President Viktor Yushchenko said the suggested price was “unjustified.”