Moscow---Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Thursday Russia could supply gas to rebel-held territories in east Ukraine that have been cut off because of the conflict there.
In a government meeting, he ordered Russia's energy ministry to come up with "propositions" in coordination with the state-owned gas giant Gazprom "to supply humanitarian aid in the form of gas supplies for these regions".
Ukraine's pro-Russian separatists said Kiev had ceased gas supplies suddenly, without warning. They said they wanted access to Russian gas.
Naftogaz, Ukraine's national gas company, confirmed the cut-off, and said it was due to pipeline damage caused by fighting.
"Resuming supplies is impossible because of the ongoing fighting" which was stopping repair teams from safely carrying out the necessary work, the company said in a statement.
AFP
