KIEV, September 8 (RIA Novosti) - Moscow"s...
"Russia"s possible refusal to develop the gas contracts is a serious threat to [national energy firm] Naftogaz"s operations and consequently the uninterrupted transits of Russian natural gas via Ukraine," the press service quoted Bohdan Sokolovskiy as saying.
The statement came after President Dmitry Medvedev told the Gazprom chief on Monday that the energy giant should stop paying Ukraine"s transit fees in advance and stick to the January agreement that ended a gas row between the ex-Soviet allies, which does not include provisions on advance payments.
Analysts suggested the instruction could be followed by a refusal to pay higher transit fees to Ukraine despite an agreement reached by the two countries" prime ministers earlier this month.
Yulia Tymoshenko and Vladimir Putin agreed in Poland last week that Ukraine would import less gas than agreed in the contracts without paying any fines, and would increase its transit fees.