Russia to Stop Gas Deliveries to Ukraine In Coming Hours

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said that Crimea can cope with the current energy issues related to the sabotage of electricity pylons supplying electricity from Ukraine to the peninsula, adding that Moscow would soon stop gas deliveries to Kiev.  

According to a statement published on his website, Russia will deliver 300 more diesel generators in Crimea on Tuesday, as part of an emergency plan meant to meet basic power needs. 

Novak also said that Russian gas supplies to Ukraine would be cut in the coming hours.

“Today or tomorrow gas deliveries will be stopped because of lack of advance payment,” he was quoted as saying by Reuters. 

The Energy Minister also explained that Russia is considering stopping coal deliveries to Ukraine. 

Over the last hours, Ukrainian officials asked the UN Security Council to discuss the return of Crimea to Ukraine.  

“Crimea is part of Ukraine. Attempts by certain countries to allow an issue of the illegal annexation of Crimea to fade away should end in a fiasco” Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk said on Monday.

"I believe they will get through the winter without any major problems,” Vice-President for the European Commission's Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič said in Bratislava on Monday.