It is possible that Russia will stop supplying gas to Ukraine before early March, if Ukraine's national oil and gas company Naftogaz will not pay, RIA Novosti reported quoting Russia's Energy Minister Alexander Novak.
Novak said the gas supply may stop before the Brussels March 2 trilateral meeting between the energy ministers of Russia, Ukraine and the European Commission's Vice-President for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic.
Novak told reporters that the gas volumes will be delivered to Ukraine only until the end of the week.
"If on these days, today or prior to Monday, the payment is received, the following volumes will be accordingly delivered," said Novak.
A similar statement earlier came from the official representative of the Russia's Gazprom, Sergei Kupriyanov.
He said Feb. 26 that if Naftogaz doesn't make advance payment to Gazprom for gas delivery in March before late this week, the gas supply to Ukraine will be stopped.
As part of the winter plan, Ukraine's Naftogaz paid to Gazprom about $830 million in December 2014 - February 2015, according to the calculations of the Russian National Energy Security Fund (NESF).