Russia confirmed Ukraine paid for gas

Naftogaz of Ukraine has paid in full for its May natural gas supplies from Russia, the state-controlled monopoly Gazprom said Monday, easing concerns of a new payment dispute that could have affected European supplies.

Earlier Putin warned that if Ukraine's Naftogaz missed a deadline to pay its May gas bill (June 9), Russia would exercise its right to demand prepayment for future supplies and said the taps would be shut if advance payments were not made.

But Naftogaz promised to pay the bill on Friday. In turn Gazprom's press service confirmed on Monday that the payment was received.