No drop seen in Russian gas supply to Europe: EU

(BRUSSELS) - There has been no noticeable drop in the supply of Russian gas to European nations, the EU Commission said Friday, after claims in Moscow that Ukraine was "stealing" natural gas transiting to Europe.

"This morning volumes were normal," said Ferran Tarradellas, spokesman for EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs, adding that the Europeans were monitoring the situation very closely.

The vast majority of gas pumped by Russia to the European Union moves in pipelines across Ukraine and there have been fears that Moscow's decision on Thursday to cut gas deliveries to Ukraine could impact EU supplies.

Russian state gas giant Gazprom accused Ukraine on Friday of "stealing" gas from Russian exports meant for clients in Europe.

Ukraine swiftly denied it was illegally siphoning Russian gas meant for clients in Europe, but admitted it was "removing gas for technical purposes, in order to ensure the transit of Russian exports".

The Commission, the EU's executive arm, has been in contact Friday with Ukrainian representatives, and dialogue with the Russian side is also ongoing, he added.

"We continue to count on what the two parties have promised, to ensure that European supplies are not affected," he said.

The European Union has remained very calm over the dispute, thanks in part to healthy natural gas stocks built up after a similar cut in supply by Russia three years ago.

Russia provides EU nations with around 40 percent of their gas imports, amounting to a quarter of total European consumption.

The vast majority of that gas transits through Ukraine.