You're reading: Medvedev: Ukraine pays for Russian gas ‘in driblets’

Ukraine is currently paying for Russian gas supplies "in driblets," but nevertheless Gazprom's interests are not damaged in this situation, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said.

“Indeed, we’ve behaved, if you will, in a noble way, trying not to put a spoke in the wheel of the Ukrainian economy, which is rolling downhill as it is. But at the same time, we have to get what is ours,” Medvedev said in an interview in an analytical program hosted by Sergei Brilyov, shown on Rossiya-1 television channel on Saturday.

“This also concerned gas. We told them at some moment: guys, enough is enough, you’ll get as much gas as you’ve paid for,” he said.

“And now they’re paying us in driblets, sending $20 million to $30 million every now and then. Well, this is enough for three, or five, or seven days of deliveries. Looks like there’s no more money. Or they are afraid to let go of the money. There are a lot of those keen on taking advantage of this money there,” he said.

Anyway, “in this sense, the interests of our economy and our gas supplier are secured,” Medvedev said.

“Strictly speaking, we’re not tolerating something that can’t be tolerated,” he said.