Naftogaz needs assurances Gazprom will honor contract before pre-paying gas

Naftogaz Ukrainy does not consider it possible to make further pre-payment for Russian gas until it receives assurance that Gazprom will honor its contractual obligations, the Naftogaz press office said in a statement.

"Naftogaz does not consider it possible to make further pre-payment for Russian gas until it receives assurance that Gazprom will honor its contractual obligations steadfastly and that the trilateral protocol signed by Russia, Ukraine and the EU in Brussels will be fulfilled," it said.

Naftogaz said Gazprom had not fulfilled its request for the supply of prepaid gas, as per the terms of the contract, in the last two days.

Gazprom was supposed to supply 114 million cubic meters on each of February 22 and 23, but actually supplied just 47 million cubic meters and 39 million cubic meters on the respective days, Naftogaz said.