Gazprom: Gas supplies to Ukraine will resume soon
Wednesday, 05 Mar 2008 15:48
Ukraine is threatening to disrupt European gas supplies
Ukraine will soon resume gas supplies from Russia after talks, according to Gazprom.
Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov told Moscow's Ekho Moskvy radio station his company and Ukraine's state energy firm Naftogaz are working on a joint statement, news agencies have reported.
The news may ease gas worries in Europe. Almost a quarter of Europe's gas supplies run through Ukraine pipelines.
Gas monopoly Gazprom said yesterday it would cut Russian supplies of gas to the Ukraine by a further 25 per cent, after reducing supplies by a quarter on Monday.
The problems arose over Russian claims Ukraine has not paid its debts. Gazprom says Ukraine owes $1.5 billion (£770 million) but the Ukraine government maintains this has been paid and threatened to disrupt supplies to Europe if the dispute was not resolved.
The last time Gazprom took action over gas disputes with its neighbours, in 2006, supplies to Europe were interrupted.