EU should monitor Ukraine's gas transit system: Russia

Russia today asked the European Union to provide monitoring of Ukraine's gas transit system and charged Ukraine was stealing gas bound for Europe, as Kiev levelled its own charges.

The exchange of accusations fuelled a furious row over payments demanded by Russia's Gazprom for gas supplied to its neighbour, which has led to shortfalls in several European countries.

"Given that (Ukrainian state energy company) Naftogaz is not allowing monitors engaged by Gazprom into its gas monitoring stations, we sent a letter to the European Commission with proposals for ensuring independent monitoring of volumes of gas transiting Ukraine," Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov said.

"In the last 24 hours we delivered to the entry of the Ukrainian transit system 295 million cubic metres -- more than needed by European consumers -- and at the exit received 270 million cubic metres.

So they stole 25 million cubic metres," he said in the latest such accusation by Russia.

In Kiev, Naftogaz blamed Russia for a reduction in natural gas supplies transiting Ukraine, saying Russia was "manipulating" the supply route and had given notice it was cutting supplies through one branch of the transit network, known as Soyuz, by 52 million cubic metres daily.

Naftogaz "urges Gazprom to stop technical manipulation of volumes and gas supply routes, synchronize the work of the gas distribution systems of Russia, Ukraine and Europe" and resume talks, Naftogaz said in a statement.

The dispute blew up on New Year's Day when Russia cut supplies to the Ukrainian market due to delays in payment for gas supplied in November and December and a demand for over USD half-a-billion in late-payment fines.