Russia voices displeasure with EU over Ukraine gas talks
Moscow - Russia views the European Union's pledge to invest in the modernization of Ukraine gas pipeline system as "an unfriendly act" against Moscow, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday.
"What happened in Brussels at the forum, we see as an unfriendly act in relation to Russia by both the European Union and Ukraine," foreign ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko told journalists.
The European Commission signed a memorandum to help develop Ukraine's gas infrastructure on Wednesday, but Russia, which ships via Ukraine for 80 per cent of it gas exports to the EU, was livid at being exclude from the talks.
President Dmitry Medvedev called for Russia to postpone government-level talks with Ukraine this week, while Prime Minister Vladimir Putin went further, saying Russia would be forced to "review" ties with the EU if it was sidelined consultations. (dpa)
