Russia halts gas supply to Ukraine amid pricing dispute

Ukrainian officials didn't immediately comment on Wednesday about Gazprom's decision to halt supplies. But Ukrainian Energy Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn said Tuesday that the discount Russia had offered wasn't enough and that Ukraine would buy gas from other nations starting July 1 until an agreement is reached with Russia. Gas consumption is low at this time of year, allowing Ukraine to bargain for better terms.

Ukraine says it has found cheaper supplies from other European nations that resell the gas they receive from Russia. Moscow has described these so-called reverse supplies as illegal.

Ukraine imported a third of its total gas supplies from Russia in the first six months of the year, the national pipeline operator said Wednesday.

Pricing disputes between Russia and Ukraine in the past have led to gas wars, leaving other European nations without heating in the dead of winter.

The last deal that Russia and Ukraine signed in October offered Kiev a discount, but required it to pay in advance for gas shipments.

Ukraine, which is struggling to balance its budget amid protracted fighting against Russia-backed separatists in the east, relies heavily on gas supplies for its metals and machinery industries.

Al Jazeera and The Associated Press