President's commissioner refutes Russian premier's allegations of Ukraine's gas pay problems

The statement by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to the effect that in the summer Ukraine may face the problem of absence of funds to pay for Russian natural gas does not correspond to fact, Bohdan Sokolovskyi, President Yushchenko's energy commissioner, told a Ukrainian news agency.

On top he added that a statement like this may be taken as interference with Ukraine's home affairs. "This is not Russia's business where Ukraine will take money to pay for gas... Those words are humiliating the people of Ukraine," Sokolovskyi said.

In his words, Putin repeatedly made statements concerning Ukraine's insolvency. Yet, they have never been confirmed, and once the Russian Federation even lost a law case in this connection, Sokolovskyi noted.

At the same time, he said the Russian party uses rhetoric "to twist the arms of European consumers." Their purpose is implementation of the Russian concept of control over Europe's energy markets, the President's commissioner said.

He noted that one more reason for this statement is the attempt to distract attention from Gazprom's financial problems, whose indebtedness totals USD 90 billion. The financial situation at Gazprom is even more difficult than at Naftogaz of Ukraine, he emphasized.

UKRINFORM