KIEV, Aug. 4 – Naftogaz Ukrayiny expects that the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce would issue a verdict in litigation with Russia's Gazprom by the end of the first half of 2017, Naftogaz Commercial Director Yuriy Vitrenko wrote on his Facebook page.

"We are on the homestretch, hearings will start next month… The arbitration decision is expected by the end of the first half of next year. The decision on the gas purchase contract could be issued earlier – by the end of the first quarter," he wrote.