Ukraine, Russian gas row continues

KIEV, Ukraine, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Ukrainian leaders will meet to discuss the Russian gas row as Gazprom insists it hasn't received final payment of 2007 debt.

Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and President Viktor Yushchenko are to meet Wednesday to discuss the standoff, RIA Novosti reports.

Gazprom said it would cut a quarter of gas supplies to Ukraine by March 3 if the debt wasn't settled. Russia is a major supplier of Europe's gas, with most coming through Ukraine.

Ukraine owes $1.5 billion for gas from the Russian monopoly. Naftogaz Ukraine says it paid $500 million, Russia Today reports.

Sergey Kupriyanov, a Gazprom spokesman, said the company wants an agreement on payment and a contract on future business.

"Until now we haven't had an official reply and the documents have not been signed," he said. "Meanwhile Ukraine continues to consume Russian gas: at the moment almost 2 billion cubic meters of Russian gas have been sent to Ukraine, obviously things shouldn't continue like that."

Apparently a deal reached between the two countries to settle the dispute was not set in stone.