Gazprom CEO, Alexei Miller, has stated that Ukraine has difficulties finding the cash to pay for Russian natural gas supplies hinting at the possibility of a new Russian gas crisis.

Speaking on the Russian Vesti-24 TV channel, Miller said Ukraine consumed much less Russian gas since mid-December, which he interpreted to mean that the Ukrainians did not have the money to pay for it.

"We assess the situation with the payment for the December supplies of Russia's gas as very alarming," Miller declared.

The deadline for Ukraine's payment for Russian gas has extended from Jan. 7 to Jan. 11, 2010, due to the New Year holidays.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, who is running for a second term in the January 2010 elections, has assured that the country would be able to pay for its December consumption of Russian gas, as quoted by Novosti.

In January 2009, delayed Ukrainian payments for Russian gas led to a gas crisis which left much of Europe, including Bulgaria, without supplies in the middle of the winter.

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