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Ukrainian gas row deadline looms Ukraine 'threatens to seize gas'
(19 minutes later)
Russia's Gazprom and Ukraine have not yet resolved their gas dispute over an unpaid bill - with Russia threatening to stop supplies on 1 January. Russian energy giant Gazprom has claimed Ukraine is threatening to seize Russian gas transported through pipelines in the country to Europe.
Ukraine's state energy firm Naftogaz says it "received confirmation from the bank" that it had paid more than $1.5bn (£1bn) to Russia on Tuesday. Gazprom said the "blackmail" threat was made after it warned gas supplies to Ukraine would stop unless its neighbour signed a new contract by 1 January.
But Gazprom says it has not received the money. It added that Ukraine owed more than $2bn, including fines. But Kiev has insisted that "uninterrupted transportation" of Russian gas to Europe was guaranteed.
Some reports suggest Ukraine's Prime Minister will go to Moscow for talks. Ukraine has transferred more than $1.5bn (£1bn) which it owes Gazprom.
"Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's flight to Moscow had not been decided upon as of 1130am Moscow time (0830 GMT)," according to a Ukrainian government source. But the Russian firm said it had not yet received the money from RosUkrEnergo - a Switzerland-registered gas trading company which is acting as an intermediary.
Payment timing Gazprom says Ukraine owes more than $2bn, including fines.
On Tuesday, President Viktor Yushchenko said Ukraine had paid its debt to Gazprom in full. European fears
Earlier, the Ukrainian government allowed Naftogaz to borrow up to $2bn (£1.3bn) to pay the debt. Acknowledging that Ukraine had started paying off its gas debt, the Russian monopoly reiterated that there would be "no grounds for supplying gas to Ukraine" if a new contract was not signed.
Naftogaz says it paid more than $1.5bn to RosUkrEnergo, Switzerland-registered gas trading intermediary. At the same time, Gazprom promised to take all the possible measures to guarantee uninterrupted supplies to all the other European countries.
But RosUkrEnergo spokesman Andrei Knutov said: "The banking day has ended [on Tuesday], so we cannot confirm or deny that information." Some reports suggest Ukraine's Prime Minister may go to Moscow for talks.
Cuts fears
Talks continued in Moscow as the two sides also need to agree on a price for 2009 gas supplies to Ukraine.Talks continued in Moscow as the two sides also need to agree on a price for 2009 gas supplies to Ukraine.
The Russian monopoly has threatened to cut off gas to Ukraine unless Ukraine signs a new contract by 1 January.
On Tuesday, Gazprom chief executive Alexei Miller told Russian news television channel Vesti that "Gazprom will have no grounds for supplying gas to Ukraine" if it does not pay out its debt.
Ukraine is a key transit route of Russian gas to Europe, and it is feared that a supply cut could affect countries further west.Ukraine is a key transit route of Russian gas to Europe, and it is feared that a supply cut could affect countries further west.
Gazprom, the world's largest gas producer, supplies a quarter of the European Union's gas needs, or 42% of EU's gas imports.Gazprom, the world's largest gas producer, supplies a quarter of the European Union's gas needs, or 42% of EU's gas imports.
A similar row between Gazprom and Ukraine in 2006 led to gas shortages in several EU countries.A similar row between Gazprom and Ukraine in 2006 led to gas shortages in several EU countries.