Transition to advance payments for gas for Ukraine is not restriction - Novak
MOSCOW. May 3 (Interfax) - The transition to advance payments for gas supplied to Ukraine is not a restriction, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters.
The payment date for the gas supplied to Ukraine in April is May 7, Novak said. "That is, if the payment for the gas supplied in April is not made on May 7, Gazprom will tentatively bill [Ukraine] for the gas supplied in June on May 16. Accordingly, Ukraine will be able to pay this bill by May 31 and then the amount of gas supplied in June on pre-payment will be equal to the amount paid for by May 31," he said.
"This doesn't mean that Russia or Gazprom are restricting gas supply. It's wrong to use this term. Gazprom fulfils its contractual obligations in accordance with the 2009 contract, which has been confirmed by Kyiv. From June 1, a situation will be possible in which Gazprom will supply gas in an amount pre-paid by Ukraine. It's not a restriction, it's a supply of purchased gas," the minister said.
