Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev will meet today in Ukraine to discuss energy issues.
Medvedev is expected to push a Russian offer to supply Ukraine with cheaper gas in exchange for tighter cooperation between the two countries.
Kyiv has resisted such Russian pressure in the past, instead giving preference to stronger ties with the European Union.
But last week’s seven-year jail term handed down to the former Ukrainian prime minister and top opposition figure Yulia Tymoshenko has soured relations between Kyiv and Brussels.
EU officials said the court action in Kyiv could put at risk an agreement on closer ties between the EU and Ukraine.
Despite the EU warnings, Kyiv has since announced a further probe against Tymoshenko over suspected embezzlement.
In an interview with several Western media outlets, Yanukovych said he was unable to interfere with the actions of Ukraine’s courts, before adding the process with Tymoshenko “is not finished.”
compiled from agency reports