Putin says EU should pay Ukraine in gas agreement

Macau News.Net
Saturday 31st October, 2009

The Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, has mentioned in a press conference that Ukraine might still be having problems paying for Russian gas.

According to Mr Putin, Ukraine has not yet been given promised money from the EU to stabilise supplies of Russian gas to Europe.

In January, many countries in Europe were left short of gas because Ukrainian Prime Minister Yushchenko blocked funds in a payment dispute between Moscow and Kiev.

Mr Putin said the European Commission leadership had to this point avoided discussing the issue with Russia.

He said even though Ukraine nad the EU had evaded the issue, he still believed Ukraine had plenty of cash to pay its gas bills.

Russia provides about a quarter of the gas consumed in the EU and 80% of that is piped through Ukraine.

Have your say on this story