Moscow - Russian export monopoly Gazprom said Tuesday it has been ready "any minute" to sit across the negotiating table from Ukrainian officials in a deadlock over gas supplies that has drastically cut volumes of Russian gas reaching Europe via Ukraine.
"We are surprised by the (Naftogaz Ukrainy's) announcement it was ready to continue talks on January 8, we are ready to start talks at any minute, given the critical situation," a spokesman for the company Sergei Kupryanov said in a televised statement.
"Gazprom" was and will be the reliable supplier of gas," he added.