The debt that Ukraine's Naftogaz Ukrainy owes for Russian natural gas has risen to $1.89 billion, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller told journalists.
“In fact, this means that Ukraine has stopped paying for gas,” Miller said.
“This is completely at odds with the provisions of the contract and
international trade practice. For our part, we have always met and will
meet our contractual obligations. But we can’t supply gas free of
charge. Either Ukraine repays its debt and pays for current deliveries
or the risk of returning to the situation at the beginning of 2009 will
appear. We will notify the Russian government concerning the situation
that is taking shape,” Miller said.
“Today, March 7, was the payment deadline for February’s deliveries
of gas to Ukraine. Gazprom has not received payment on the debt.
Including the price discount in effect in the first quarter, the overdue
debt for gas has increased significantly and now totals $1.890
billion,” he said.
