Russian gas giant Gazprom has issued a warning that it could stop shipping gas to Ukraine over unpaid bills. It comes as pressure on the new government in Kiev and its supporters in Europe intensifies.
Gazprom halted gas supplies to Ukraine over unpaid bills at the beginning of 2009. The stand-off resulted in the revision of Ukraine's contract with Gazprom and a deal enabling Russia's Black Sea naval fleet to remain at a base in Ukraine's Crimea region.
In December, Russia agreed to cut gas prices for Ukraine as part of a bailout package. But Russian President Vladimir Putin and Gazprom have said Russia will abandon the price discounts as of April because Kiev has failed to make gas payments on time.
