Ukraine pledges gas to Bulgaria, Moldova

SOFIA, Bulgaria, Jan. 10 (UPI) -- Ukraine has promised to start providing 2 million cubic meters of natural gas daily to Bulgaria and Moldova, officials said.

RIA Novosti reported Saturday that in letters to the countries' presidents, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko proposed settling up after Russia resumes gas deliveries to Europe.

Bohdan Sokolovsky, the Ukrainian president's international energy security envoy, said Ukraine has already started delivering gas to Moldova and is preparing supplies to Bulgaria.

Bulgaria, almost totally dependent on Russian natural gas supplies, is one of a dozen nations caught in the middle of a dispute between Gazprom and Ukraine over more than $600 million in late payment fees.

The utility accuses Kiev of siphoning gas as it passes through the country on the way to European destinations, the newspaper said.