Russia to Supply Gas to Ukraine in April Regardless of Kiev’s Debt

© RIA Novosti . Ilya Pitalev / Go to the mediabankRussian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Ukraine will receive Russian gas supplies regardless of Kiev's debt to Moscow.
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Ukraine will receive Russian gas supplies regardless of Kiev's debt to Moscow. - Sputnik International
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Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Ukraine will receive Russian gas supplies regardless of Kiev's debt to Moscow.

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MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russian gas supplies to Ukraine will start in April regardless of the situation around Kiev’s debt to Moscow, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Saturday.

“Regarding debt payments – we are in court with them [Kiev]. We currently have a prepayment system. As far as I am aware, they have paid $30 million, which means that there will be supplied gas for this amount,” Novak said.

In June 2014, Russian energy giant Gazprom switched Ukraine to a prepayment system for gas supplies amid Kiev's massive debt, amounting to over $5 billion at the time.

Following the move, Ukraine's national oil and gas company Naftogaz turned to the Stockholm arbitration court requesting to review its contract with Gazprom, seeking to recover billions in alleged over-payments.

Gazprom in turn filed a lawsuit against Naftogaz with the same court seeking to recover its debt. The first hearing on the case took place earlier this week.

After a half-year halt in Russian gas supplies, Moscow and Kiev agreed on an interim gas deal in October 2014, brokered by the European Commission, to cover the winter period.

On Wednesday, Gazprom and Naftogaz signed a supplementary agreement on gas deliveries for the second quarter of 2015.

The three sides are expected to meet again by the end of April to discuss future Russian gas supplies to Ukraine, as well as transits to Europe. The exact date and location of the meeting are yet to be decided, according to Novak.

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