Putin: Ukraine Gas Cut-Off 'Smacks Of Genocide'

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has claimed that Kiev's decision to suspend gas supplies to parts of eastern Ukraine "smacks of genocide".

Speaking in televised comments, Mr Putin accused Ukraine of exacerbating the "humanitarian catastrophe" in the country's east.

"It's not enough that there's already hunger there, and the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe) has reported a humanitarian catastrophe, but then to switch off their gas supplies too," he said.

"What do you call that? That already smacks of genocide."

Ukraine's national gas company Naftogaz has confirmed that it has stopped supplying some areas in the country's east.

The company said the move was prompted by damage to pipelines caused by the fighting.

Russia's state energy supplier Gazprom has since begun supplying parts of eastern Ukraine under the control of pro-Moscow rebels.

Moscow says Kiev must pay for the gas, but Naftogaz has insisted it will not do so.

Mr Putin said Russia will cut the supplies off if Kiev fails to pay, a move he threatened "will create a problem" for gas transit to Europe.

Last year Europe received some 147 billion cubic metres of Russian gas, around a third of its total needs.

Some 40% of the supplies were delivered via Ukraine.

Kiev and Moscow have disputed gas supplies and pricing for the past year, deepening the rift between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists.

On Tuesday, European foreign ministers called for those involved in the fighting to abide by a ceasefire agreed in Minsk earlier this month.

The ministers were meeting to consider the situation in the town of Debaltseve, where fighting has continued despite the ceasefire.

There have also been attacks on the port city of Mariupol.