OREANDA-NEWS. January 13, 2009. Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with European Commission President Josй Manuel Barroso, initiated by Russia.

Mr Putin informed Mr Barroso that Russian transit gas, whose supplies were partly resumed, could not be pumped to Ukraine's gas transporting system. "It is closed," the Prime Minister stated. In this connection, President Barroso expressed an intention to discuss this problem with the Ukrainian leadership.