Ukraine's Tymoshenko sentenced to seven years in jail

Judge Rodion Kireyev handed the sentence - the maximum sought by state prosecutors - at the end of a three-month trial that has polarised society in the ex-Soviet republic and risks undermining Ukraine's relations with the West.

The European Union, a major trading partner for Ukraine, immediately denounced the judgement as politically motivated and told President Viktor Yanukovich's leadership that it would boomerang seriously against relations.

"The way the Ukrainian authorities will generally respect universal values and rule of law, and specifically how they will handle these cases, risks having profound implications for the EU-Ukraine bilateral relationship," EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement on behalf of the EU.

This included "the conclusion of the Association Agreement, our political dialogue and our cooperation more broadly," the statement issued in Brussels said.

Tymoshenko, 50, who described the trial as a "lynching" organised by Yanukovich and denied any wrongdoing in negotiating the 2009 deal, smiled faintly as the sentence was pronounced.

But the former Orange Revolution leader then rose to her feet and -- even as Kireyev continued in a monotone to deliver the rest of his judgement -- denounced Ukraine's "authoritarian regime" and decried the lack of justice under Yanukovich.

Though Russia has rejected charges by the Yanukovich leadership that the deal was improperly negotiated, it is again talking with Ukraine about its terms. The Kiev government says it hopes a new contract will be tied up by the end of the year.

The deal struck between Ukraine and Russia in 2009 was greeted with relief by the EU since it ended a pricing dispute that led to disruptions in gas supplies to parts of the bloc.

At least 2,000 Tymoshenko supporters massed outside the courtroom in Kiev city centre to hear the verdict, shouting words of encouragement and waving flags in solidarity with her.

When the verdict was pronounced, there were scuffles with police, but no serious clashes. Tymoshenko was driven away in a police van within minutes of the trial ending.

At the start of the day, Tymoshenko, wearing her trademark peasant hairbraid, bristled defiance. Flanked by her daughter, Yevhenia, and husband, Oleksander, in court, she told reporters: "You know very well that the sentence is not being pronounced by Judge Kireyev but by President Yanukovich.

"Whatever the sentence pronounced, my struggle will continue," she said.