After another round of negotiations¹, Ukraine rejected the price deal, saying it "won't fall into Russian gas trap".

 

But Mr Putin said on Wednesday that the offer was "to support the Ukrainian economy at a rather difficult time''.

 

The two sides have been locked in talks after Russia withdrew a deal to subsidise gas exports to Ukraine.

 

On Wednesday, Russia offered a discount of $100 for every 1,000 cubic metres of gas exported to Ukraine.

 

But Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said it was "a trap". Ukraine wants a new gas deal based on "a contract, rather than on the basis of whether Russia likes the Ukrainian government or not", he said 

 

Speaking in Moscow later on Wednesday, Mr Putin said: "We believe that our offer is more than in a partnership² spirit, aimed to support the Ukrainian economy at a rather difficult time.

 

"But if our offers are rejected it means we will enter another stage. This is not our choice. We do not want it."

 

The European Union-brokered talks in Brussels come after Russia threatened to turn off the gas taps to Ukraine if Kiev did not pay for past deliveries.

 

However, Russia's deadline for payment has been repeatedly pushed back after Ukraine paid off part of the sum.

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