Kiev

The Ukrainian energy utility Naftogaz has transferred USD 1.45 B to Gazprom, the first installment of its debt to the Russian concern, Naftogaz says.

The state-owned company wrote in a Tuesday statement that it had successfully paid amounts of gas that have already been delivered.

"Special status" bill in danger of being scrapped

LUGANSK -- Officials of the self-proclaimed People's Republic of Lugansk are not concerned about Petro Poroshenko's intention to scrap a law on their special status.

The law would have given that status to the region of Donetsk and Lugansk.

Russia on Nov. 3 called on Ukraine to halt its military offensive against pro-Moscow rebels in the east, saying the insurgent leaders had enough "authority" to hold talks with Kiev.
      
Deputy foreign minister Grigory Karasin made the appeal after Moscow recognised separatist elections in two eastern Ukraine regions dismissed as illegal by Kiev and the West.
      

Separatists in eastern Ukraine voted Sunday in controversial, Russian-backed leadership elections that Kiev and the West have refused to recognize and which threatened to deepen an international crisis over the conflict.
      

Russia may restart gas supply to Ukraine as soon as next week if Kiev pays $2.2 billion worth of debt and pre-payments, gas export monopoly Gazprom  said on Friday, under a deal that is also vital to ensure deliveries to Europe.
   

Moscow and Kiev on Oct. 30 clinched a deal that will guarantee that Russian gas exports flow into Ukraine and beyond to the European Union throughout the winter despite their intense rivalry over the fighting in eastern Ukraine.

As soon as Ukraine transfers the first chunk of debt worth USD 1.4 B, Russia will renew gas deliveries, Economy Minister Alexander Novak says.

At a meeting held in Brussels with officials from the outgoing EU Commission, Russia and Ukraine, the two countries' ministers signed an agreement setting the final price of supplies, set to gradually decrease over the next year.

Russia and Ukraine have agreed on the conditions under which gas supplies from energy giant Gazprom will be conducted in the winter, Russia's Energy Minister says.

European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso said Thursday a deal to resolve a bitter Russia-Ukraine supply dispute was "within reach" as he urged the two sides to settle their differences.
     
Barroso told Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko by telephone Wednesday that "an agreement was within reach" at EU-brokered talks between Kiev and Moscow, a Commission statement said.

Russia, Ukraine and the European Commission have failed to reach agreement on the issue of winter gas supplies to Kiev.

The major stumbling block in the 12-hour talks was Ukraine's debt, according to reports of the Bulgarian National Radio.

Russia's Energy Minister Alexander Novak informed that the three sides had agreed late on Wednesday to continue consultations on Thursday.