Putin warns to cut supplies if Ukraine taps gas

Moscow, Nov 12 : Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has warned that Russia will cut supplies if Ukraine taps natural gas, pledging gas deliveries will be uninterrupted if transiting countries honour their commitments.

''If they do not pay for gas consumed in Ukraine, they will not get it. If they don't get it, then gas is likely to be tapped from the pipeline. As soon as tapping is reported, we will cut supplies,'' Mr Putin said after talks yesterday in Moscow with Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann.

Speaking about Ukraine's ability to pay for Russian gas, Mr Putin reiterated, referring to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), that Kiev did have financial capacities.

''The problem is that there is a presidential campaign, and as you know the Prime Minister and the President are in different election camps. They have their own political interests,'' the Russian Prime Minister said.

He urged efforts to make sure that commitments are honoured, including the transit of natural gas to Europe, without interfering in Ukrainian political processes.

Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko are rivals in a presidential election slated for January 17 next.

Mr Putin said diversifying energy routes could discipline energy partners and transiting countries.

''We believe our energy supplies to major partners in Europe should be diversified. This will enhance stability and security.

This will also discipline our partners in energy transit,'' he said.

Russia is building the Nord Stream gas pipeline to pump gas under the Baltic Sea to Europe to reduce dependence on transiting countries. Ukraine transits around 80 per cent of Russian gas bound for Europe.

Tymoshenko pledged yesterday that Kiev would honour its commitments to supply Russian gas to Europe, Itar-Tass news agency reported.

''We are taking extraordinary efforts to pay for natural gas, including for November, on time, without delay and in full,'' Tymoshenko said at a meeting with G8 ambassadors, adding that this was the result of an effective cooperation between the IMF and Ukraine.

She voiced the clear position of the Ukrainian government that it would be necessary to continue cooperation with the IMF and that ''it will be extremely difficult to attain political stability in Ukraine and overcome the economic crisis without the fourth tranche from the IMF.'' Last November, the IMF approved a 16.4 billion dollar loan for Ukraine and issued the first tranche of 4.5 billion dollar. It lent the former Soviet Republic 2.8 billion and 3.3 billion dollar in two tranches later. The fourth tranche of 3.8 billion dollar is expected later in 2009.

''We can guarantee that Ukraine will not, in any circumstances, break its commitments on gas transit to the European Union,'' Tymoshenko said.

--UNI

(c) 2009 Published with permission from United News of India.
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