Ukraine crisis: Russia halts gas supplies to Kiev

The Russian energy giant, Gazprom, has cut off its gas supplies to Ukraine, after a deadline passed for Kiev to repay $1.95bn (£1.15bn; 1.44bn euros) which Russia says it is owed.

Speaking at a press conference in Moscow, Gazprom's chief executive Alexei Miller said Ukraine's state-owned Naftogaz company would from now on have to pay upfront for its gas - but supplies to its European partners would continue.