Naftogaz Ukrainy has received $500 million from international financial institutions to purchase natural gas from Russia, company head Andriy Kobolev has said at a press conference in Kyiv.

"The money is in the account of Naftogaz. It is in a special account at the state bank. There it is reserved for gas purchases from Gazprom. We'll spend the funds gradually, as necessary," he said.

Kobolev noted that the purchase of Russian gas does not mean the rejection of its supplies from Europe.

He said that Naftogaz is in talks with its European partners to lower the price of European gas and that imports from the EU will depend on the "eternal Ukrainian debate, where on the one hand is greed and on the other hand – security."