Russian gas giant claims Ukraine has blocked gas deliveries to Europe, dismissing hopes of ending the dispute that has hit several countries’ supplies.

The BBC News reports that, “Gazprom deputy head Alexander Medvedev said Ukraine had failed to carry the gas westwards to Europe after it resumed pumping it across the border.”

Kiev revealed that it could not pump the gas as Russia had switched the transit route. Nearly a week ago, hundreds of thousands of Europeans have been without gas since Gazprom cut supplies.

Moscow had not been able to resolve differences with Ukraine over debts and pricing.

Robert Wingfield-Hayes, a BBC reporter appearing at a pumping station on the Russian-Ukrainian border, believes the latest twist in the dispute is symptomatic of the total lack of trust between the two nations.

According to the BBC, “European Commission president Manuel Barroso phoned Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to express disappointment at the low level of gas flowing from Russia and at the apparent lack of access to dispatch centers for EU monitors, EU officials said.”

Mr. Barroso explained he would also discuss the problem with the leadership of Ukraine. Last Wednesday, Russia shut off the gas to Europe, accusing Kiev of stealing gas intended for other European customers. On the previous week, Ukraine domestic supply was slashed.

Nevertheless, in a deal agreed upon Monday, Russia consented to resume supplies if Russian and EU Observers were permitted to monitor their transit route through Ukraine. The maneuver was designed to soothe Russian fears that Ukraine was siphoning off gas for its own purposes.

Russia claimed gas had begun flowing from the Russian pumping station at Sudzha (local-time) on Tuesday, which was later confirmed by EU monitors, however the amount of gas, they said, was “very limited.”

Mr. Medvedev said Gazprom had informed the European Commission that it could not supply gas through Ukraine since Kiev had not opened any export pipelines.

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