DHAKA: Russian gas exporter Gazprom said on Monday that Ukraine had failed to pay at least part of its gas debts by a 0600 GMT deadline and would now have to pay up front for deliveries, suggesting that supplies could be cut.

Kiev and Moscow failed to agree overnight on the price of future gas deliveries in a deal needed to secure flows to Ukraine and safeguard onward supplies to the European Union.

A gas cut would further complicate efforts to try to end the worst crisis in relations between the two neighbours since Soviet times and find a truce in eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian troops are fighting pro-Russian rebels.

Russian officials said Alexei Miller, Gazprom’s chief executive, and energy minister Alexander Novak would meet president Vladimir Putin later on Monday and then a decision would be taken on the gas issue, reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 1520 HRS, JUNE 16, 2014