Ukraine expected to pay $2.5 billion debt for Russian gas

Ukraine may repay at least $2.5 billion of its $3.5 billion debt for Gazprom gas supplies, Russia’s Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on May 26 following the second round of the trilateral talks between Moscow, Kiev and the EU, ITAR-TASS has reported.

“The total payment may amount to $2.5 billion,” Novak said, adding that this sum will cover part of a bill for gas supplied from November 2013 till April, and part of a bill for May supplies.

Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz may pay $2 billion to Gazprom on Thursday and may transfer the second, $500 million tranche on June 7, EU Commissioner for Energy Gunther Oettinger said. Officials of Russia and Ukraine and representatives of the companies are to consider the results of the negotiations and agree until the end of Wednesday, Oettinger said.

Copyright: ITAR-TASS, 2014