Ukrainian energy minister admits problems with clearing debt for Russian gas

Ukraine is experiencing problems with clearing a debt to Russia for natural gas, and it expects Europe to help it deal with them, Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yuriy Prodan said.

"As you know, the $1.4 billion debt should be cleared through receiving a Russian loan, but we don't have it, and we can't clear this debt," Prodan told journalists in Kyiv on Wednesday.

"Europe is saying it can help, and we also hope for the agreements existing with the IMF [to come through]," he added.