TODAY: Russia and Ukraine may be nearing gas agreement; Moscow extends debt payment deadline; NATO and Lavrov trade accusations; UN unimpressed by Russian resolution on Ukraine violence; Crimea sees boost in PPP; deputy speaks out against foreign treatment of children; crude exports to Europe slowing; Russian hacker accused by US.

According to the WSJ, after a first round of new talks yesterday, Russia and Ukraine are nearing an accord on gas prices and supply, considering a new price and constructing a repayment plan. Europe’s energy chief, Günther Oettinger says ‘real progress has been made.’  But Russian news sources are reporting that Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller says he has thus far seen ‘no proposals’ to review the current gas contract with Ukraine.  The Energy Ministry is demanding that Ukraine pay its remaining $2.2 billion gas debt by June 9, an extension of its earlier deadline of yesterday. NATO meanwhile is calling on Russia to end ‘the flow of arms and weapons across the border’ into Ukraine but Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is also calling for an end to the ongoing violence, and Russia’s NATO envoy accused the alliance of encouraging the use of force by the Kiev through ‘unprecedented activity near Russia’s borders’ which ‘weakens stability […] in the region’.  NATO is planning to discuss the long-term security implications of Russia’s actions in Ukraine.  The UN was unimpressed by Russia’s draft resolution calling for an end to fighting – the US State Department called it ‘hypocritical’.  Crimea’s Deputy Prime Minister says his population’s purchasing power has risen by over 30% since the republic joined with Russia.