Putin-Ukraine stealing gas from European consumers

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Ukraine has stolen gas from European consumers and not from Russia, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was quoted as saying on Tuesday by Interfax news agency. "Ukraine has stolen gas not from Russia, but from consumers who have bought the product and paid for it," Putin said in a meeting with Gazprom Chief Executive Alexei Miller.

"It's gas for which Western consumers have paid but which has not reached them," Miller was quoted as replying.

Miller earlier accused Ukraine of stealing about 15 percent of the Russian gas that crosses its territory en route to European countries.

"The amount of Russian gas being stolen is increasing by the hour," news agencies quoted the Gazprom head as saying.

"According to the latest information, Ukraine is stealing about 15 percent of the gas that moves to the Russian-Ukrainian border."

(Reporting by Robin Paxton)