Ukraine's leading English-language newspaper since 1995

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin AP MOSCOW - Angry Russian leaders have lashed out at the European Union's deal with Ukraine to modernize its aging gas pipeline network, saying the agreement makes no sense without Moscow's involvement.

The EU on Monday promised Ukraine billions of euros (dollars) to help upgrade the sprawling pipeline network which pumps Russian gas for European consumers. A fifth of gas consumed in the EU comes from Russia through the Ukraine.

Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev told a session of his Security Council Tuesday that the EU deal with Ukraine "raised a number of questions." Prime Minister Vladimir Putin then said that the EU and Ukraine had failed to discuss the agreement with Russia.

Putin said, "The volume of gas to be pumped is a key factor."