Russia ramps up motor fuel sales to Ukraine, regardless of conflict

French President Francois Hollande addresses a news conference during the G7 summit at Elmau Castle hotel in Kruen near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, southern Germany, June 8, 2015. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian companies, spurred by healthy profits, have sharply raised sales of vital motor fuel to Ukraine this year, while at the same time also supplying the area of the country held by pro-Moscow separatists.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) use in Ukraine as a much cheaper alternative to gasoline rose 17 percent in 2014 from the previous year. Ukraine is now heavily dependant for LPG on Russia, which has overtaken Kazakhstan as its main supplier. Despite the conflict in east Ukraine, trade continues, albeit with friction, as Kiev is reliant on Russian gas and exports agricultural commodities to its neighbour.