KIEV, November 3 (RIA Novosti) — Kiev has not yet paid for Russian gas, but aims to do so in the near future, Ukraine's Energy Minister Yuriy Prodan told RIA Novosti Monday.
"Not yet. In the near future," said Prodan answering the question on whether Ukraine had already transferred the money for the Russian gas deliveries.
Russian energy giant Gazprom switched Ukraine to a prepayment system for gas supplies in June over its major gas debt. Following the move, Naftogaz turned to the Stockholm arbitration court requesting to review its contract with Gazprom and hoping to recover $6 billion in alleged overpayments. Meanwhile, Gazprom filed a lawsuit against Naftogaz with the same court in order to recover $4.5 billion in debt.
Last Thursday, after months of negotiations, the final round of gas talks between Russia and Ukraine, brokered by the European Union, finished with the signing of a so-called "winter package" agreement securing gas supplies to Ukraine until March. The agreement stipulates that Russia resumes gas supplies to Ukraine and gives Kiev a $100 discount on the price it pays per 1,000 cubic meters of gas, while Kiev agrees to pay $3.1 billion to cover part of its debt to Gazprom by the end of 2014.
