国际英语新闻:Putin vows to maintain loans, lower gas prices to Ukraine

BRUSSELS, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday said Russia would maintain loans and its commitments to reduce gas prices in Ukraine even if the opposition took power.

"In a direct answer to your question, no, we will not," Putin told a press conference when asked whether Russia would review its agreements with Ukraine in the likelihood of a new government.

The press conference was also addressed by European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

The European Union (EU) and Russia held their 32nd summit on Tuesday in Brussels amid rising tensions over violent protests in Ukraine sparked after it walked away from a free trade negotiation with the EU in November.