Gas settlements a mutual problem of Naftogaz and Gazprom - Ukrainian premier

The issue of settlements for natural gas with Russia remains within the Ukrainian government's focus, but it is primarily a problem of two companies - Naftogaz of Ukraine and Russian gas giant Gazprom, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said.

"This issue remains in the government's spotlight, but it is primarily a matter for these two companies to deal with," Azarov told reporters in Kyiv on Tuesday, when commenting on delays in settlements for Russian gas consumed by Ukraine.

Indeed, certain problems exist, but they are not critical, he added.

Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said earlier that so far, Ukraine had not paid $882 million for Russian natural gas shipped in August.

Addressing Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev during a conference call on Tuesday, Miller proposed "discussing the issue of advance payments, which are envisioned by the contract."

Medvedev, for his part, noted that Russia might switch to advance payments for natural gas with Ukraine if the problem was not sorted out in the near future.