Bill for untaken gas a result of 2009 gas contract, says Yanukovych

Gazprom's moves in regards to Ukraine, particularly its $7 billion bill for gas not imported, do not represent pressure on Ukraine, but are the consequence of the gas contract inked in 2009, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said.

"Gazprom's actions are most of all a huge mistake of the last government. No one slammed their fingers in the door and made them sign such an agreement. So for us to blame Gazprom and Russia for this pressure would not be correct, because Ukraine also signed the agreement. This is a shortcoming," Yanukovych said during a joint press conference with Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite in Vilnius on Wednesday.