MOSCOW, October 8 (RIA Novosti) - Gazprom has reached an agreement with Ukraine's Fuel and Energy Ministry on a scheme to settle the country's natural gas debt, which exceeds $1.3 billion, the Russian gas giant said in a news release.
The announcement came following talks between Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller and Ukrainian Fuel and Energy Minister Yuriy Boiko in Moscow.
"The parties have coordinated a scheme to settle the debt owed by Ukrainian companies for natural gas deliveries. A corresponding document is planned to be signed tomorrow," the statement said.
Miller and Boiko met last Wednesday for talks on Ukraine's debt for Russian gas supplied this year, after the gas monopoly warned it would have to cut exports if the country failed to repay the sum in October. Gazprom also notified European consumers on the situation with the transit country.
Gazprom said that following Wednesday's meeting "an agreement was reached that Ukraine's government will take the problem under its control and ensure payment of the debt before November 1."
Last Thursday, the Russian monopoly and Ukrainian officials clarified that the debt was owed by Ukrainian consumers, not by the state.
