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Russian energy minister says Ukraine's prepayment for gas enough till Tuesday

Ukraine will need 2 billion cubic meters of gas until end of March

KRASNOYARSK, February 27. /TASS/. The funds that Naftogaz of Ukraine has prepaid for Russian gas will suffice for deliveries till Tuesday, Russian Energy Minister Alexander  Novak said at the Krasnoyarsk Economic Forum.

"If Naftogaz paid for another 24 hours, it means the resources will last till Tuesday through Monday," he said.

"Now the deadline for prepaid has is postponed by a day. They can also pay for Tuesday - it depends on them now. We are acting in the framework of our agreement, we are not violating it. If they want gas, they have to pay," he added.

In case further prepayment does not come in, Novak does not rule out suspending supplies.

Earlier today Gazprom confirmed it received $15 mln from Naftogaz of Ukraine in prepayment for gas. This means Ukraine will be receiving gas on March 2 when the trilateral meeting between Russia, the EU and Ukraine takes place.

At the moment Gazprom supplies 40 mln cubic meters of gas per day which costs the Ukrainian company around $12 mln.

The minister noted that Ukraine will need 2 billion cubic meters of gas until end of March.

The Russian energy minister earlier confirmed Russia's participation in the trilateral gas meeting in Brussels on March 2 that will discuss current gas supplies to Ukraine and ensuring its transit to the European Union.

"Yes, I have confirmed my participation and we plan to discuss in Brussels a whole range of our mutual relations and namely the implementation of the October 31 Brussels agreements," Novak said.

The talks will focus on the so-called winter package and Russia-EU energy dialogue, as well as gas supplies to the war-torn eastern Ukrainian regions. "I think that this issue will be touched upon, of course," Novak told a TASS correspondent.

Earlier this week, Vice President of the European Commission Maros Sefcovic invited the energy ministers of Russia and Ukraine, Alexander Novak and Vladimir Demchishin, for the three-way gas meeting in Brussels.