Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Eduard Stavytsky is confident that an agreement will be reached with Russian gas giant Gazprom on payment of debt for gas deliveries.

"We always come to an agreement, we'll come to an agreement now as well," the minister told reporters. He said negotiations are now being held on this issue.

"We have always paid our debts, so this time we'll also pay," Stavytsky said.

Asked about progress in the talks, he said they are underway. "A solution to this situation is being discussed by specialists at the level of a working group. The group is now working," Stavytsky said.

"We have normal working relations. I don't understand why we should set deadlines," Stavytsky said in response to a question about when Ukraine is supposed to resolve the debt issue with Gazprom.

However, on Thursday Stavytsky said that the issue of paying the debt to Gazprom was supposed to be resolved by Naftogaz Ukraine by the end of the working day. "I gave the chairman of Naftogaz Ukraine's management board two days to resolve this issue. I'm confident that he'll get the job done. The time to resolve the issue runs out today after lunch," Stavytsky said.

The minister said he had not yet managed to review the statements by the Russian side about possibly requiring Ukraine to pay in advance for gas.