Reuters: Russia hopes for Ukraine gas deal this week

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Tuesday he hoped Moscow and Kiev would this week settle their differences over a timetable for Ukraine to pay its natural gas debts to Russia.

Russia stopped gas flows to Ukraine in June in a standoff over the gas price with its neighbouring former Soviet republic, through which Europe receives about half of its gas imports from Russia.

After several rounds of talks brokered by the European Union, Moscow and Kiev reported progress at a meeting last week in Berlin.

Novak reiterated that Kiev must repay at least part of its $5.3 billion gas debt before Russia's state-owned gas producer, Gazprom, resumes gas supplies to Ukraine.
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