Russian Industry and Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko on Tuesday held Ukraine, which serves as a key transit country for Europe's gas supplies from Russia, responsible for European energy security and called for diversifying export routes for Russian gas.

Europe's energy security depends not on Russia, but on Ukraine, which accounts for 80 percent of gas transit from Russia to other European countries, Khristenko told a press conference.

He urged the European Union (EU) to take into account all the risks involved in the transportation of Russian gas via Ukrainian territory and respond adequately to the current situation.

"We count on an adequate response from the EU," Khristenko said.

European countries from Slovenia to Germany felt the pinch of Russia's cutoff of gas to Ukraine on Sunday, reporting shortfalls of gas supplies in freezing weather.

Gas supplies in many affected countries returned to normal levels after Russian gas giant Gazprom pumped extra gas into pipelines running through Ukraine. Russia accused Ukraine of stealing gas intended for other European countries, a charge Kiev denied.

Khristenko said Russia must diversify export routes to Europe for Russian gas, citing a Russia-Germany pipeline being built on the Baltic seabed as an important step in route diversification.

Germany is by far Europe's biggest importer of gas from Russia, which last year accounted for nearly 38 percent of its consumption.

Khristenko called the dispute with Ukraine over gas supplies a commercial matter and warned against politicizing the gas row.

"The situation should not be politicized, which has very serious impacts ... Russia is being accused of exerting political pressure and blackmail," he said.

The U.S. Department of State expressed its concern over Russia's cutoff of gas to Ukraine on Sunday, saying it "creates insecurity in the energy sector in the region and raises serious questions about the use of energy to exert political pressure."

The only proper way out is a calm transition to market relations, European gas prices and European transit rates, Khristenko said.

Ukraine was buying Russian gas at 50 U.S. dollars per 1,000 cubic meters over the past year, but Gazprom has asked Ukraine to pay 230 dollars. The two sides are still in talks to work out a contract for 2006.

Source: Xinhua