MOSCOW: Gas giant Gazprom on Wednesday halted gas supplies to Ukraine after Kiev said it was suspending purchases of Russian energy in the latest row between Moscow and its war-torn ex-Soviet neighbor. The dispute comes against the backdrop of ruptured relations between Moscow and Kiev over the conflict in eastern Ukraine, in which Russia denies directly supporting separatist rebels.

Both countries were quick to stress Wednesday that gas supplies to Europe had not been affected.

“Ukraine did not pay for July gas supplies,” Gazprom chief Alexei Miller said in a statement.

“Gazprom has halted gas supplies to Ukraine,” he said.

He added that the gas pricing formula for Ukraine would not be changed until late 2019, reiterating that no more gas would be sent to the pro-Western country without prepayment, irrespective of the price.

The announcement came after Ukraine declared Tuesday it was suspending all purchases of natural gas from Russia after EU-mediated negotiations in Vienna aimed at keeping supplies running broke down.

Ukraine’s state energy firm Naftogaz has said it would continue transporting Russian gas supplies westward to its other European clients.

On Wednesday Ukraine’s Energy Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn said Kiev was ready to continue talks.

The Kremlin declined to comment.

Ukraine can get by without Russian gas in the summer but it needs supplies to refill its underground storage facilities ahead of the winter.