German Chancellor Angela Merkel called the gas dispute a "serious development" and thought it will threaten the image of Russia to Europe as a credible gas supplier.
She urged Russia and Ukraine to restart their negotiation and to resume gas supply as soon as possible. She also said she will discuss the gas issue with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin when he visits Germany on Friday.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the recent interruption of gas have "reemphasized to the world the need to diversify energy supplies."
Vladimir Putin has proposed the EU pays to secure gas transit via Ukraine. He was quoted by RIA Novosti as saying: "We are proposing that our European partners share the risks and set up an international consortium that could buy from (Russian gas monopoly) Gazprom the necessary amount of gas and immediately send it to Ukraine to secure gas transit to Europe."
