Moscow- Russian gas monopoly Gazprom is facing a shortfall of about 1.1 billion dollars in lost exports to Europe as a result of its gas dispute with Ukraine, President Dmitry Medvedev said Wednesday.

"Since January 1, Gazprom has not collected 1.1 billion dollars in export payments under contracts for gas deliveries to Europe," Medvedev said in talks with Gazprom chief Alexei Miller, reported news agency Interfax.

Moscow - President Dmitry Medvedev told his counterpart in Bulgaria, which is almost entirely reliant on Russian gas, Moscow was ready to reopen gas flow to Europe via Ukraine as soon as a new contracts with Kiev for gas in 2009, the Kremlin said Thursday.

"The president underlined that Russia is ready to carry out its obligations and renew transits of gas after the conclusion of the necessary contract with Ukraine," the Kremlin said in a statement posted on its website after Medvedev and Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov spoke by phone.

Moscow (dpa) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev Tuesday signed into law a bill extending presidential terms form four to six years, the Kremlin said.

Medvedev final endorsement of the constitutional amendment follows rapid legislative approval by both Russian houses parliament as well as 83 regional chambers.

The Kremlin pushed hard to fast-track the amendment - the first to Russia's 15-year-old constitution - through the constitutional process.

It has been less than two months since Medvedev proposed the constitutional changes in his first state-of-the nation speech on November 5.

Moscow - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday ensured Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Russia's continued support for the Palestinians in the Middle East.

The number of problems has definitely not grown less," said Medvedev as he received Abbas for an official meeting at the Kremlin, reported the Interfax news service.

ROME, Dec. 5  -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says he has canceled a trip to Italy because of the death of Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Alexy II.

Medvedev told Italian President Giorgio Napolitano he would be traveling from India to Moscow to honor the memory of Alexy, who died Friday at the age of 79, the Italian news agency, ANSA, reported.

The Russian church has received condolences from Pope Benedict XVI and the Catholic Church despite past tensions that existed between the two religious groups.

A temporarily patriarch will be chosen Saturday by the Holy Synod of Russian Orthodox Church, Kommersant said. The newspaper said a new patriarch should be elected by May 2009.

New Delhi, Dec 5 : Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is cutting short his visit to India and returning home as Russian Patriarch, Alexei-II, head of the Orthodox Church died in Moscow.

Medvedev, who arrived in New Delhi last night on a three-day visit will leave for Moscow on Friday evening.

According to Russian officials, he has also cancelled his tour to Italy.

Russian Patriarch Alexy-II was instrumental in the post-Soviet spiritual revival of the country.

Medvedev was scheduled to leave on Saturday morning.