Russia halts gas supply to Ukraine

Ukraine

KIEV, November 25, 2015 – Russia’s Gazprom has cut off its supply of natural gas to Ukraine, saying it is waiting for an upfront payment.

Alexei Miller, CEO of the state-run gas company, said a final shipment was sent to Ukraine on Wednesday morning.

Kiev said later in the day that it would end gas purchases from Russia and close its airspace to Russian flights.

Gazprom’s move comes just two months after Ukraine and Russia reached a preliminary deal that stipulated gas would be delivered until March 2016 for a price on par with neighbouring EU countries.

The September restart of shipments eased fears that a deal would not be reached before cold weather set in, but Wednesday’s news has raised new concerns on this front.

Russia infamously cut off its gas supply to Ukraine in the winter of 2009, a move that caused shortages in numerous European countries dependent on Ukrainian shipments.

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