Victor Yanukovich on Ukrainain authorities' policy towards Russia

A former prime minister of Ukraine and current opposition leader said Wednesday that his country's policy on Russia failed to uphold its interests.

Victor Yanukovych criticized Ukrainian authorities' approach to relations with Russia.

"The policy has significantly exacerbated the economic situation in Ukraine and has not brought any benefits in relations with Europe," he told a local Ukrainian radio station, RIA Novosti told.

Russia and Ukraine were involved in a bitter dispute over prices for natural gas delivered by Russian energy giant Gazprom, which cut off supplies of Russia's neighbor on January 1 after talks failed to bring any agreement. In the wake of this move, the concern said a fall in gas arriving at European destinations via three pipelines through Ukrainian territory had been registered. The dispute was settled on January 4.