EU looking to help Ukraine pay Russia gas bill: commissioner
(VIENNA) - The European Union's energy commissioner said Friday the EU was working on a solution to help Ukraine pay back its gas bills and called for calm after Russia threatened to turn off the gas tap.
"I'm preparing a solution that will be part of the IMF (International Monetary Fund), EU (European Union) and World Bank aid package to Ukraine and will allow the payment of unpaid bills," Guenther Oettinger told Austrian Oe1 radio.
"We think we can find solutions in the next few weeks," he added.
"There's one weak point: transit links via Ukraine are necessary to ensure a really good supply," Oettinger said amid fears that a cut in supplies to Ukraine would also imperil EU supplies.
"This is why we're in close contact with Ukraine and its gas company to ensure that Ukraine remains solvent and that the debt that Ukraine's gas company owes (Russian gas giant) Gazprom doesn't increase.
"There's no need to panic. We're in close contact with our Russian partners. The Russians want to deliver gas because they want to sell gas and make money."
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday sent a letter to leaders of 18 European countries, warning them Moscow could cut gas supplies to Ukraine if Kiev fails to pay a $2.2-billion (1.6-billion-euro) debt.
Oettinger however dismissed the warning, insisting "one shouldn't take every threat at face value."
Europe depends on Russia for around a quarter of its gas, with half of that piped through Ukraine.
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