Ukraine Pays First Tranche Of Gas Debt To Russia

Kyiv says it has paid the first tranche of its debt to Russia's Gazprom, fulfilling the terms of an EU-brokered deal signed last week. 

Ukraine's state gas company Naftogaz said November 4 it transferred $1.45 billion to Russia’s Gazprom, rferl.org reports.

Moscow raised the price it was asking Kyiv pay for gas early this year and stopped supplying gas to Ukraine in June, citing $5.3 billion in debt and demanding advance payment for future supplies.

The October 30 accord calls for Ukraine to pay $3.1 billion in two tranches by the end of the year.

Gazprom has said it would restart gas supplies to Ukraine as soon as Kyiv repaid the first debt tranche, as well as $760 million up front for November supplies.

Naftogaz did not refer to a payment for November gas in its November 4 statement.