Moscow - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday warned of hindrances in delivery of natural gas to European consumers, citing once again payment problems with the Ukraine. According to the Interfax news agency, Putin informed Sweden in its role as European Union president of the difficulties with Ukraine, which is the most important land route for Russian gas into the West.
In January 2009, a week-long row between Kiev and Moscow over alleged non-payment of supplies to the Ukraine led to dramatic shortages of gas in Eastern and Western Europe, with Russia shutting off deliveries.
The state-controlled Russian gas concern Gazprom and Ukrainian firm Naftogaz have recently announced an agreement that all payment issues have been resolved.
However Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko in a conversation with Putin last week said the Kiev head of state Viktor Yushchenko would not provide any more funds for gas payments.
The financially weak Ukraine has been in a months-long political crisis due to a power struggle between Yushchenko and Timoshenko. Presidential elections are planned for January 17, 2010.
