MOSCOW, March 5 - Russian gas exporter Gazprom said on Thursday it had received a $15 million prepayment from Ukrainian state energy firm Naftogaz, averting a possible cut in supply, at least for a few days, Reuters reported.

NEW YORK, March 5 - Boutique investment firm Rothschild has invited investors to organize into a Ukraine creditor group ahead of a sovereign debt restructuring, sources directly familiar with the situation told Reuters.

GORKI, March 4 - Russian gas giant Gazprom has decided to discontinue its gas price discount for Ukraine starting next month, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said during a Tuesday meeting with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow.

BRUSSELS, March 5 - EU countries have no reason to fear disruptions in shipments of Russian gas in connection with the crisis in Ukraine, European Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger told journalists.

KIEV, March 5 – The Central Election Commission has approved expenses to hold the early presidential election in Ukraine scheduled for May 25 in the sum of UAH 1.965 billion, along with measures aimed at saving UAH 770 million of that.

The expenses were approved at a meeting of the CEC held on Tuesday.

BRUSSELS, March 5 - The European Union offered a larger than expected package of aid to Ukraine on Wednesday, saying it was willing to provide $15 billion in loans and grants over the next several years to help get the shattered economy back on its feet, Reuters reported.

PARIS, March 5 - High-level diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis in Ukraine made little apparent headway at talks in Paris on Wednesday with Moscow and Washington at odds and Russia's foreign minister refusing to recognize his Ukrainian counterpart, Reuters reported.

KIEV, March 4 - The European Union is prepared to play a role in the negotiations over gas contracts between Ukraine and Russia, but for that to happen there needs to be an invitation, European Union Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger said.

KIEV, March 4 - The European Union is in favor of the trilateral model for the management of Ukraine's gas transportation system, EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger said in an interview with Kommersant-Ukraine newspaper.

ZAVIDOVO (Russia), March 4 - The format of Ukraine's cooperation with the countries of the Customs Union should be determined at four-party talks between all member states, President Viktor Yanukovych said.