Ukraine must pay money for gas, says Russia's Putin

A gas weight gage showing zero seen at a snow-secured travel point on the fundamental pipeline from Russia in the town of Boyarka close to the capital Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, Jan 3, 2009 Ukraine has said it is ready to issue securities worth $2.16bn to address its gas back payments

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has said his nation will request installment ahead of time for gas supplies to Ukraine beginning from 1 June.

In a public statement to European pioneers, Mr Putin said Ukraine now owed Russia $3.5bn (2.55bn euros; £2.1bn) for gas effectively conveyed.

He said Russia stayed open to interviews, however the EU had neglected to concoct particular results.

Mr Putin's letter takes after comparable remarks by Gazprom manager Alexei Miller.

Mr Miller said on Monday that the state vitality titan could end characteristic gas shipments to Ukraine on 3 June unless the nation pays ahead of time for supplies.

"Given the circumstances, the Russian organization has issued a development receipt for gas conveyances to Ukraine, which is totally as per the agreement, and after June 1 gas conveyances will be restricted to the sum prepaid by the Ukrainian organization,'' Mr Putin said in his letter, which was discharged by the Kremlin on Thursday.

Higher charges

Ukraine has declined to blanket its commitments in dissent over Moscow's choice to almost twofold the value it charges Kiev for gas imports.

Ukraine's Finance Minister, Oleksandr Shlapak, said on Monday that his nation was ready to blanket its remarkable installment when Russia brought down its cost.

He said Ukraine was ready to issue bonds worth $2.16bn to address its gas back payments.

"In the event that Russia grows the old cost of $268 for every 1,000 cubic meters [until] the end of the year, we will quickly blanket the obligation," the UNIAN news office cited Mr Shlapak as saying.

Gazprom now charges Ukraine $485.50 for every 1,000 cubic meters - the most astounding rate of any of its European customers.

Near 15% of all gas expended in Europe is conveyed from Russia through Ukraine.

There is a risk for EU countries that Ukraine will begin taking the gas Russia had reserved for its European customers, something it did when it was cut off from Russian gas throughout past question in 2006 and 2009