Ukraine makes partial payment to Russia in gas dues

Russia confirmed Monday that it received $786.4 million in partial payment of Ukraine's gas debt, and had rescheduled a pre-payment scheme due to start from June 9.

Two money transfers were made as payment for gas supplies in February and March 2014, when Ukraine's Naftogaz company took 1.64 billion and 1.8 billion cubic metres of gas, respectively, at $268.50 per 1,000 cubic metres, according to Russia's energy ministry.

Russia's state-owned Gazprom company chief Alexei Miller said it had decided to postpone the start of the prepayment regime from June 9, but noted Ukraine must pay its gas debt for May before that day, Xinhua reported.

In 2010, Russia and Ukraine signed a gas-for-fleet agreement, under which Moscow offered a discounted gas price in exchange for extending its lease of its Black Sea Fleet facility in Crimea for another 25 years.

In April, Moscow declared the pact no longer valid as Crimea joined Russia in March.

Following the announcement, Gazprom cancelled discounts on gas supplies to Ukraine and set a price of $485 per 1,000 cubic metres, which Kiev called overpriced and temporarily suspended gas imports.