First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Pynzenyk said Ukraine was paying for current Russian gas imports and had enough money to pay for Turkmen gas, which was cut off in November, when Ukraine failed to pay.
"Ukraine is not obtaining any gas from Turkmenistan. But Russia is supplying a lot more than earlier -- about 170,000 to 180,000 cubic meters a day," he said.
Kiev owes Russia about $1.5 billion, and Turkmenistan some $700 million, for old gas debts. Ukraine needs to import about 80 billion cubic meters annually.
A senior government delegation was preparing to visit Turkmenistan for talks on gas, he said. Kiev hoped Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov would take up an invitation to visit Ukraine.
Kiev is actively seeking other sources for gas besides Russia, which in the past has cut supplies to Ukraine for nonpayment of debts. Ukraine has at times siphoned off gas meant for export to Western Europe.
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