Russia halts gas supplies to Ukraine from July 1: Gazprom

Russian gas company Gazprom said today it was halting all natural gas supplies to Ukraine after Kiev announced the immediate suspension of Russian gas purchases the day earlier.

"Ukraine did not pay for July gas supplies," Gazprom said in a statement. "Gazprom halted gas supplies to Ukraine from 10 am (0700 GMT) July 1," it said, stressing that no more gas would be sent to the conflict-torn ex-Soviet country without prepayment.