Kiev confident about gas supplies

NEW YORK, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- European gas supplies from Russia through Ukraine are secured so long as Kiev renews deals with international leaders, the Ukrainian foreign minister said.

Russian energy giant Gazprom cut gas supplies to Europe briefly in January following a row over debt and contracts with Ukraine in 2008.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Petro Poroshenko told the Financial Times that his talks with the International Monetary Fund alleviated concerns Europe would face another gas shortage in 2010.

"I am confident that we don't have a reason to be worried that suddenly we will have any danger of the shortening of stock for supplying gas to Europe," he said.

Kiev issued an emergency plea to the IMF for $2 billion in loans to secure its external debt obligations, including its gas debt to Russia.

The IMF earlier this year suspended loans to Kiev when Ukrainian leaders failed to make progress on economic reforms.

Poroshenko said winter gas supplies to Europe were secure, however, but expressed some pessimism regarding the relationship with the IMF.

"If we renew cooperation with the IMF, we will for sure have no reason to be worried for payment for the gas," he said. Without the IMF loans, he said there was a "higher risk (of shortages) but I'm not expecting that it is a real danger."