The price Ukraine pays for gas imported from Russia could more than double next year, the head of Gazprom warned on Friday.

Alexei Miller said prices for Ukraine could rise to more than $400 (€254, £200) per 1,000 cubic metres in 2009 – up from $179.5 this year – if, as expected, the Russian state-controlled monopoly has to pay more for the gas it buys from Central Asia.