Medvedev tells Gazprom to start demanding prepayment by Ukraine for gas from May 13
GORKI. May 12 (Interfax) - Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev instructed Gazprom to introduce prepayment by Ukraine for gas from May 13.
"It's time to stop messing about. Tell them you are introducing prepayment for gas from tomorrow. I think Gazprom has taken all possible steps to resolve this matter by other means," Medvedev said at a meeting with Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller and Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak.
Several attempts have been made to resolve the situation, but "we haven't been heed." "If that's the case we need to start acting right now, because it's simply impossible to tolerate this any longer," Medvedev said.
He said though that a switch to prepayment did not mean an end to gas supplies. "We'll supply as much as they pay for. If they pay 1 euro we'll supply 1 euro worth, if they pay a billion we'll supply a billion," he said.