MOSCOW, July 7 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's energy giant Gazprom confirmed on Tuesday that Ukraine had paid in full for June's natural gas deliveries to the country.
Ukraine's national oil and gas firm Naftogaz said on Monday it had transferred payment for June supplies without disclosing the amount, but confirmed the company had paid for 1.1 billion cubic meters of gas. July 7 was the payment deadline.
"Naftogaz has paid in full for the June shipments," Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov said.
Moscow has repeatedly voiced concerns over Kiev's ability to pay for gas, especially its ability to purchase gas to pump into its underground storage facilities and ensure uninterrupted transits to Europe.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso urged the two countries earlier on Monday to make efforts to prevent a new gas crisis.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said on Monday that Kiev was considering loan proposals from both the European Union and Russia to help it pump gas into underground storage facilities.
Ukraine increased its gas request in July fourfold compared with June, a Gazprom spokesman said.
Sergei Kupriyanov said that Ukraine consumed 33 million cu m of gas daily in June. "In July, Ukraine raised its application to 120 million cu m per day. Ukraine increased its actual gas intake in the first week of July by four times."
