Gazprom may bill Ukraine for gas shortage on results of 2013

Russian gas monopoly Gazprom, which billed Ukraine 7 billion USD for taking less gas than was contracted for 2012, may put forward similar claims by the results of this year as well, Gazprom's official representative Sergey Kupriyanov said in an interview with the radio station Echo of Moscow, Ukrinform reported.

"We have made out a bill for the past year and think that we will do so for this year," he said.

Kupriyanov did not call the sum of the bill for 2013, but noted that it will be considerable. "There are obligations under the contract, and they must be observed," the head of the concern said.

At the same time, Kupriyanov said that Gazprom is not yet going to go to the court, because one should go there only with clear understanding what it is possible to obtain as a result of the proceedings. According to him, Gazprom would like to get the money, but there is no understanding of where Ukraine could take it.