Ukraine seeks higher fees for gas delivery

KIEV, Ukraine, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Ukraine says it plans to double fees for Russia to move natural gas through Ukrainian territory to the rest of Europe.

The official announcement from Kiev Wednesday raised the possibility of disruptions in gas delivery this winter with a new feud between the two countries, The New York Times said.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who was to meet Russia's prime minister, Vladimir V. Putin, on Thursday, said her plan would enable Ukraine to insure stable supplies of gas.

Putin has warned of possible disruptions in gas for Europe in coming months. Such a dispute between the two countries last January led to a temporary shutoff of gas.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko asked Russia Thursday to amend the natural gas supply contract as soon as possible, RIA Novosti reported.

In an open letter to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Yushchenko criticized the 2009 gas contract signed between Ukraine's Naftogaz and Russian energy giant Gazprom.