Gazprom prepays Ukraine for 2009 gas transit to Europe

"The limit for Gazprom's advance payments has been used up in full. Naftogaz [of Ukraine] has already received prepayment for gas transit for the whole of 2009," the source said. Gazprom suspended gas deliveries to Ukraine on January 1 over non-payment, and the sides' failure to reach a new gas deal. A week later, Gazprom accused Ukraine of stealing gas intended for EU consumers and cut off supplies to the European Union via the country, prompting two weeks of gas shortfalls across much of Eastern Europe. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin arrived in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, on Thursday for the CIS heads of government meeting, the government press service said. He will meet with his Ukrainian counterpart, Yulia Tymoshenko, on the sidelines of the gathering. Russia hopes that the meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian premiers will clear up the statement made by Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko last week urging the review of the natural gas contracts signed in January; Kazinform cites RIA Novosti. See www.en.rian.ru for full version.