Putin hopeful of settling gas dispute with Ukraine
乌克兰有望与俄解决天然气争端

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he is hopeful that Ukraine can resolve a dispute with Russia’s state-controlled gas company Gazprom. Speaking in televised remarks at Wednesday’s Cabinet session, Putin signalled that Russia could negotiate new terms for gas shipments to Ukraine if it pays off part of the debt it owes Russia.

"In any case, if the terms you agreed with our partners are fulfilled, if payments begin in the volumes you agreed on, then the Russian government will have to decide what it will be prepared to do in future co-operation in the gas sphere with our partners in Ukraine." Putin said.

Russia wants Ukraine to pay back 2 billion US dollars in gas debts, in exchange for lower prices in the future. Energy Minister Alexander Novak reported at Wednesday’s session that Ukraine must pay the bill by Friday and another 500 million US dollars before June the 7th. Failing the payment on Friday, gas supplies to Ukraine could be reduced or even cut. Ukraine owes some 3.5 billion US Dollars in total to Russian energy giant Gazprom. In the month of May, Ukraine consumed 1.7 billion US Dollars worth of gas, raising the total debt owed to Russia to 5.2 billion US Dollars. The dispute over the gas bill has been hanging fire for months and has also seen the EU intervene to mediate.