Ukraine halts energy imports from Russia

KIEV, Ukraine, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Ukraine has ceased importing electricity from Russia, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Energy Ministry said Monday.

Russia and Ukraine have an embattled relationship in the energy sector. Russian energy giant Gazprom sued Ukraine for $2.4 billion at an international court in Sweden last week over outstanding gas debts.

The spokesman for the Ukrainian Fuel and Energy Ministry, Fant Di, said Monday Ukraine had halted its energy imports from Russia, ITAR-TASS reported.

Ukraine was forced to shut down one reactor at its Zaporozhye nuclear power plant because of the backlash from the world financial slowdown. Ukraine started importing power from Russia in September but was forced to cut consumption because of financial restraints.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the court filing last week was a more viable way to pressure Kiev, rather than supply cuts.

Gazprom and the Ukrainian state-owned Naftogaz agreed to settle a portion of the debt by Monday, and it was unclear if the payments were related to the import decision.