Russia rejects Ukraine gas deal of initial $1B payment, deadline passes

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Chairman of the board of the company "Naftogaz" Andrew Kobolev speaks to reporters outside the government building in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, June 16, 2014. A Monday deadline approached with no sign of progress in resolving a months-long dispute over exactly how much Ukraine owes Russia for past natural gas deliveries and what price the nation should pay for future supplies. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov)

KYIV, Ukraine – Ukraine faced a possible cutoff of gas supplies from Russia as a payment deadline passed and negotiators failed to reach a deal with Russia on gas prices and unpaid bills.

Russian wanted payment of US$1.95 billion for past due bills by 9 a.m. Kyiv time Monday.

As the deadline passed Gazprom issued a statement that it would start demanding payment in advance for gas.

The statement did not address whether supplies to the pipelines into Ukraine were immediately being reduced.

The European Commission said in a statement Monday that Ukraine was ready to accept a compromise in talks in Kyiv of paying $1 billion now and more later, but Russia was not.

European Union energy official Guenther Oettinger said he was “not pessimistic” that agreement could eventually be reached.

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