Gazprom warns Europe of delivery problem

KIEV, Ukraine, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- A billing dispute between Russia's natural gas giant Gazprom and the Ukraine government could turn into a winter delivery problem for Europe, the company said.

"Gazprom is doing everything possible to avoid any disruption of gas deliveries to Europe," Gazprom deputy chairman Alexei Miller wrote in a letter to European clients recently, the EU Observer reported Tuesday.

"However, if events develop along an unfavorable scenario, the problem of Ukrainian transit will be a common problem for Russia and Europe," Miller wrote.

Gazprom says Kiev's gas bill has reached $2 billion, but Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Monday he spoke with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko for an hour. After the call, he told reporters, "they don't want to pay," the EU Observer said.

European clients fear the incident will become a replay of a 2006 dispute in which Russia cut natural gas supplies over a billing disagreement.

The company has said it would continue making European deliveries regardless of its position with Ukraine and Ukraine has promised not to redirect supplies from pipelines that travel through the country, the Observer said.