Cut off: Gazprom halts Ukraine gas supplies after upfront payments stop

Russian company Gazprom has stopped gas supplies to Ukraine until Kiev pays for more energy. Gazprom said that by 7am GMT on Wednesday Ukraine had received all the gas it had paid for and would not be sent more because the country had yet to pay in advance for future supplies. Chief executive Alexei Miller warned that the stoppage posed a serious risk to the secure transit of gas to Europe via Ukraine, as well as to Ukrainian consumers. Russia resumed gas shipments to its neighbour less than two months ago after they signed an EU-brokered deal ensuring supplies until March. Past disputes between Russia and Ukraine have led to stoppages. A previous cut-off in 2009 caused serious disruptions in shipments to EU countries at the height of winter.

I believe they will get through the winter without any major problems.

Maros Sefcovic, the European Commission vice president for energy, speaking on Monday

Business Gazprom