Ukraine denies siphoning Russian gas

KIEV, Ukraine, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Ukraine's state gas company Naftogaz said Saturday it was not stealing from Russia's Gazprom, despite the latter company's claims.

Russia cut off gas supplies to Ukraine Thursday after negotiations over Kiev's outstanding $2 billion natural gas bill and a new contract failed late on New Year's Eve. After some European Union states reported reductions in their gas supplies via Ukraine, Gazprom claimed Naftogaz was stealing gas, RIA Novosti reported Saturday.

But the Ukraine company denied those claims on its Web site, saying, "Naftogaz considers that any statement from official representatives from Gazprom on the unsanctioned siphoning off by Ukraine of Russian gas destined for Europe is untrue and damages the reputation of Naftogaz as a reliable transporter of energy to European Union countries."

Instead, Naftogaz said the gas shortfalls seen by Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania through the Ukrainian pipeline was Gazprom's fault in a move it said was meant to intentionally cut Russian gas deliveries to Europe, RIA Novosti reported.