Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warned Wednesday of possible cuts in gas deliveries to Europe unless neighbouring Ukraine pays for deliveries, according to dpa. The deliveries could halt the end of June or early July, Putin said at a news conference during a working visit to neighbouring Finland. Early this year, Russian gas deliveries were cut over a similar dispute with Ukraine, a key transit country for Russian gas, impacting several European countries. Putin and his Finnish counterpart Matti Vanhanen also discussed the Nord Stream project - a 1,200-kilometre underwater pipeline that would run from Vyborg in Russia to Greifswald, Germany and pass through the Finnish economic zone. Finland and other countries are evaluating the plans presented by the international consortium including Russian gas giant Gazprom. Vanhanen said at the joint news conference that the Finnish government would likely make its decision in September. Putin underlined that the project was not only linked to Russia and Germany but was also of interest to other European countries. The two premiers also discussed Russian tariffs on timber used in the Finnish forestry industry. The agenda included a meeting with President Tarja Halonen. Putin made several visits to neighbouring Finland when he served as president of Russia, but this is his first as premier.
