Ukraine hasn't paid for 14 billion cubic meters of Russian natural gas that is currently being kept in its storage facilities, Bogdan Sokolovsky, the Ukrainian president's representative for foreign affairs and energy security, said at a news conference Friday, news agency Prime-Tass reported.
"We have 14 billion cubic meters of gas in our storage facilities, but no payment for this gas has been made," Sokolovsky said, blaming the government for failing to ensure that Naftogaz Ukrainy, Ukraine's national oil and gas company, had enough funds to pay for the gas.
Ukraine will have to buy the gas at market prices if it doesn't pay for the gas by the end of the year, Sokolovsky said.
This year, the price of Russian gas supplies to Ukraine amounts to $179.5 per 1,000 cubic meters, much less than what Russia charges E.U. countries.