VIENNA--Russia won't stop gas exports to Europe, even if Ukraine taps the pipeline with gas destined for Europe, the Russian energy minister said in an interview with Austrian daily Die Presse published Thursday.

"That (stopping gas ecports) is not a possibility for Gazprom. We want to deliver [gas] to Europe as contracted," Alexander Novak said in the interview.

Mr. Novak said the question is how much gas Ukraine would take out of the pipeline for its own use.

"On very cold days, all of the gas could be tapped and Europe would be left without gas," he is quoted as saying.

Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a long-running dispute over payments for natural gas. Gazprom halted its delivery of gas to Ukraine in June.

Full story: http://diepresse.com/home/wirtschaft/energie/3871884/Russischer-Minister_Hoffen-dass-die-Vernunft-siegt?from=suche.intern.portal

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