Ukraine hopes to resolve the issue of the payment for Russian gas "today or tomorrow," Energy and Coal Industry Minister Eduard Stavytsky has said.

He said this while speaking to journalists in Kyiv on Wednesday.

"We have always made and will make settlements with our partners this time... Of course, there are inconsistencies, and there are questions about terms. Therefore, there is a delay in payments," Stavytsky said.

He said that the outcome of negotiations should be expected by Thursday.

"We expect [the results of negotiations] today or at most tomorrow," Stavytsky said.

He also expressed hope that Russia's Gazprom would not switch to advance payment due to Ukraine's delayed payment for gas.

"I hope that our partners will advance business, rather than political interests," he added.

Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said on October 29 that Ukraine had not paid the $882 million it owes for gas delivered in August 2013.

He said during an intercom meeting conducted by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev that it was necessary "to consider the question of prepayment soon, advance payments, as is envisioned in the contract."

While commenting on the delay in payment for the consumed Russian gas, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said on October 29 that the issue of settlements for natural gas with Russia remains within the Ukrainian government's focus, but it is primarily a problem of two companies - Naftogaz Ukrainy and Russian gas giant Gazprom. He said that certain problems exist, but they are not critical.