KIEV, July 5 - The halt in gas purchases from Russia will not affect Ukraine's preparations for the winter, Ukrainian Energy and Coal Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn told reporters.

"In actual fact the halt will in no way affect the safety of gas transportation or of supplies to Ukraine, or even preparations for the winter season," Demchyshyn said. He said Ukrainian underground gas storage facilities already contained 12 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas and that 60 million cubic meters was being pumped in on a daily basis.