BRUSSELS (AFP)--The new Czech European Union presidency on Thursday insisted Moscow and Kiev must honor their commitments to provide natural gas to Europe after Russia halted supplies to Ukraine amid a payments row.
Russia and Ukraine have been locked in talks over a new gas supply deal for 2009 after the previous agreement expired Dec. 31. The two parties failed to find a solution during last-minute negotiations Wednesday.
Russia's OAO
Gazprom (GAZP.RS) cut gas deliveries to Ukraine in full from 0700 GMT, state television reported Thursday, citing the state-owned monopoly.