KIEV, March 31 - The government will provide tax breaks to Naftogaz Ukrayiny, the state-owned shipper of Russian natural gas to Europe that has been facing financial challenges, First Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Turchynov said Monday.

“I think we will provide support for Naftogaz because it has been facing a challenge of making massive payments for natural gas that Ukraine consumes,” Turchynov said at a press conference.