A look at Ukraine’s fast-growing Russian gas bill

By Laura Mills

Published April 11, 2014 5:04pm ET

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A look at Ukraine’s fast-growing Russian gas bill — Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at a Cabinet meeting in the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Wednesday, April 9, 2014. President Vladimir Putin has threatened that Russia's state-owned gas company could ask Ukraine to pay for gas in advance, according to Russian state news agencies. In a meeting Wednesday with government ministers, Putin said that asking for advance payments "corresponded with the contract" between Ukraine and Russia, but asked that state energy giant Gazprom refrain from such drastic measures until "additional consultations" between both sides. From right, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin. (AP Photo/Sergei Karpukhin, Pool) | Sergei Karpukhin

MOSCOW (AP) — The amount Russia says it is owed by Ukraine’s cash-strapped government for natural gas has ballooned as if by magic — from $1.7 billion at the beginning of April to a staggering $35.4 billion, according to a letter sent by President Vladimir Putin this week to 18 European leaders.

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Natural Gas Russia Ukraine