The volume of purchases of Russian natural gas foreseen by Ukraine's gas balance for 2013 was cut due to its high price, and the Russian side was warned about these plans of Kyiv, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Yuriy Boiko has said.

"While approving the projected balance we were guided by our national interests – we will buy as much gas as we need, considering the fact that we're replacing some gas with coal," he told journalists in Astana, while commenting on the amount of imported gas stipulated in the balance.

"We clearly warned our Russian colleagues that with the current price of gas we would cut down on purchases. [We would] reduce its consumption and, consequently, its purchase," Boiko said.