Russian energy minister not commenting on direct Russian gas supplies to Donbas

Russia's energy ministry wouldn't comment on whether Moscow plans to supply Donbas militants with gas / lenta-ua.net

"We have one single contract between Gazprom and Naftogaz of Ukraine, with one supplier and one buyer," was all Novak would say when asked about the possibility of Russian gas supplies being made to the breakaway districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

As UNIAN earlier reported, Ukraine, in a deal struck on Ocotber 30 in Brussels, has committed making gas payments of $4.6 billion to Russia by the end of the year.

Since April, Russia has been actively supporting pro-Russian militants in Donbas, and there is mounting evidence that it has deployed its regular troops in eastern Ukraine. The insurgents plan to hold elections on November 2, and have declared that the territories they control are no longer part of Ukraine.