Moscow, Dec 27 (IANS/TASS): Russia has decided to supply 500,000 tonnes of coal to Ukraine every month to solve the latter's energy problems, Russian Vice-Premier Dmitry Kozak said Saturday.

"If an additional corresponding agreement may be reached, we're ready to supply another 500,000 tonnes - for a total of one million tonnes of coal - to Ukraine in order to help it solve energy problems," Kozak told Rossiya24 TV Channel.

The decision was taken upon Ukraine's request.

Kozak expressed the hope that this would help ensure reliable energy supplies to Crimea.

Russia would also supply electricity to Ukraine, Kozak said. But he did not mention its quantity.

At Friday's meeting with newly-appointed governors, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said "the first trainloads of coal are arriving to ensure power plants' stable operation".

"This is the first in a series of steps to better the performance of the power supply system," he added.