You're reading: Medvedev calls on Ukraine to strictly abide by 2009 gas agreement

Yaroslavl, September 9 (Interfax) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said he hopes that this year will not see any problems with Russian natural gas shipments to Europe across Ukraine.

"You know, I hope the experience of recent years has taught our closest partners and friends not to tear up existing agreements, even if they aren’t completely happy with them," Medvedev told the Euronews television station in Yaroslavl.

"When our colleagues and partners, the President of Ukraine and Prime Minister of Ukraine tell us: "This agreement is unfair, it is the work of the devil and we will not execute it" – that is just outrageous! All contracts must be executed until they are terminated legally through the court or revoked by the parties," he said.

"And I hope that our partners, our Ukrainian friends will abide by the framework agreement concluded in 2009 equally strictly and meticulously," the Russian president said.