MOSCOW — President Vladimir Putin warned Wednesday that Russia will cut gas supplies to Ukraine if it fails to pay in advance for future deliveries.
Putin said that Ukraine’s latest payment would be good only for another three to four days, warning that Russia will have to turn off the tap if Ukraine doesn’t remit payment quickly.
He did not announce a deadline, but warned that a cutoff might disrupt supplies to Europe. Russian and Ukrainian gas officials might meet in Brussels later this week to discuss the situation.
Last week, Russia accused Ukraine of cutting gas supplies to areas in the east controlled by Russia-backed rebels.
It then started pumping gas directly to the east, saying they should be counted as part of the overall volume of its gas exports.
