Russia-Ukraine gas talks to go on after Kiev makes payment Kiev has sent a first gas payment to Moscow, paving the way for further talks next week to avert a Russian gas shutdown to Ukraine, negotiators said Friday. "We don't have a final deal yet but we have made progress," EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger said after mediating between Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak and his Ukrainian counterpart Yuriy Prodan, as well as the CEOs of both national energy companies. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES.