GAZPROM FOR EUROPE

Russia's Gazprom has started pumping gas into storages in Europe, CEO Alexei Miller said on Friday, as a spat between Moscow and Kiev over pricing threatens supplies to Europe .

"I think we can pump over 5 billion cubic metres," Miller told a briefing, adding that Gazprom already has over 2.6 bcm in storages in Europe.

The European Union gets around a third of its gas needs from Russia.

Russia has stopped gas supplies to Ukraine this month after Kiev failed to pay its debts and Miller said there was a risk that Ukraine would start taking gas from the Russian flows to European clients this autumn.

Miller also said Gazprom may cut gas supplies to European companies, which reverse gas to Ukraine.

reuters.com