Ukraine has completely paid off its debts for Russian natural gas supplies after the payments were delayed since the beginning of the year following a dispute with Russian gas giant Gazprom
Ukraine has completely paid off its debts for Russian natural gas supplies after the payments were delayed since the beginning of the year following a dispute with Russian gas giant Gazprom.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said the debts were paid ahead of her meeting with Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov in Kiev on April 28.
The payment of debts is important in averting any aggravation in relations between Ukraine and Russia that could disrupt the steady supply of natural gas from Russia to the European Union.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko and Tymoshenko in late March differed significantly on how much Ukraine owed for Russian natural gas supplies since the beginning of the year. Yushchenko insisted Ukraine owed about $2 billion, but Tymoshenko argued the government's records show the debt at about $900 million.
Russian gas giant Gazprom, citing a debt of $600 million, earlier in March reduced by 50% -- and then quickly resumed -- gas supplies to Ukraine. Supplies were resumed in full after the Tymoshenko government promised to pay the debt in full.
