Moscow  - Russian gas export monopoly Gazprom said Friday that its dispute with Ukraine over payments could cause disruptions in deliveries to Western Europe, a news agency reported.

Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov said that Gazprom head Alexei Miller had notified Europe's largest clients that it could not rule out the possibility of a cut off, according to Itar-Tass.

At issue is the lack of progress in reaching agreement with Ukraine's Naftogaz over 2 billion dollars in non-payments for imports by Kiev, with a New Year's deadline looming with threatened cut-offs by Gazprom.

Gazprom supplies about one-quarter of the European Union's gas needs, 80 per cent of which is shipped through Ukraine.

Kiev - A gas main explosion in a Ukrainian apartment building buried dozens of residents Wednesday evening, leaving rescue workers racing against time to find survivors.

The apparent accident took place in a Soviet-era apartment building in Evpatoria, on the Black Sea shore of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula.

Kiev  - A Ukrainian journalist hurled a shoe at a local politician Friday to protest against remarks concerning NATO.

The reporter in southern Ukraine's Odessa tossed his footwear at Oleh Soskin, an official presiding at the opening of a NATO information centre in the Black Sea port, the Interfax news agency reported.

Odessa-based Revizor, a website devoted to controversial regional news, reported the incident took place at the city's Ushansky University, where Soskin reportedly was giving a speech on the need for Ukraine to join NATO.

Kiev - The Ukrainian government has dismissed speculation that the country may not be in a position to co-host Euro 2012 alongside Poland.

"We will be ready in 2012, I have no doubt about it," Yuri Pavlenko, Ukraine's minister for sport, youth and family, was quoted Friday by the Interfax news agency as saying in Kiev.

Pavlenko said that Kiev's Olympic stadium would be finished on time and be ready to host the final despite construction hold-ups of more than a year.

Last month UEFA expressed doubts about Ukraine's ability to host the event due to organizational problems and internal political conflicts.

Kiev/Moscow - A last-ditch effort by Ukraine to pay part of a massive debt to Russia may be insufficient to prevent a natural gas supply crisis affecting Europe, according to a Thursday announcement by the Russian energy giant Gazprom.

Ukraine's government late Monday evening transferred 800 million dollars to the Russian natural gas monopolist on Tuesday, but the payment does not cover all of Kiev's outstanding debt, the Interfax news agency reported, citing a Gazprom company statement.

Kiev - Ukraine's parliament formed a new ruling coalition on Tuesday, allowing the legislature to take up long-stalled legislation for stimulating the economy.

Leaders of three centrist parties, the senior Block of Yulia Tymoshenko (BYut), Our Ukraine National Defence (OUND) and the junior Block of Litvin (BL) signed the coalition agreement, giving parliament its first ruling majority since September.