KIEV, Sept. 1 - Russia's gas giant Gazprom has changed its position and now requires a greater increase in natural gas prices that it plans to charge Ukraine next year, a newspaper reported Thursday.

Gazprom now seeks to charge $180 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas, up from $150/1,000 cu m that had been earlier suggested by the Russian gas company, Kommersant reported citing a source.