Ukraine Admits Trouble Paying for Russian Gas, Crisis Looming

The Ukrainian state-owned company Naftogaz has admitted having financial difficulties that could hinder its paying for Russian gas supplies for October 2009.

In a company communique Wednesday, cited by BGNES, Naftogaz points out that the hard financial situation of the country and the rising debts owed to it by domestic Ukrainian consumers of natural gas complicate the finding of money for the full and timely payment to the Russian company Gazprom for the gas supplied in October.

This statement comes several days after Russian PM Vladimir Putin said a new gas crisis between Russia and Ukraine was possible not unlike the one in January 2009.

Bulgaria was among the EU states that were hit the hardest by January 2009 gas war between Russia and Ukraine, and stands to suffer great losses if the situation is repeated.

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