Saying that Ukraine owes it $1.5 billion
Gazprom threatens to stop natural gas supplies to Ukraine since February 11, 2008, according to Russian mass media.
Gazprom official spokesman Sergey Kupriyanov claimed in the air of “Vesti” television that if Ukraine does not settle the issue of its arrears, the gas supplies to this country will be halted next Monday.
According to Reuters, Russia`s gas export monopoly Gazprom said on Thursday that Ukraine owes it $1.5 billion for earlier gas supplies, and it would halt the deliveries from next week if Kiev fails to pay.
"If the Ukrainian side does not settle the problem on Monday, Gaprom will have to stop supplies of Russian gas to Ukraine," Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov said in a statement.