BRUSSELS - UKRAINE maintains it does not owe money to Russia's Gazprom and denies stealing gas intended for European customers, according to a controversial Kiev declaration seen by AFP late on Sunday.

At several points during the written declaration, Kiev says that 'Ukraine has not any debt vis-a-vis Gazprom and fixed its financial settlements for all consumed gas.'

Debts claimed by Gazprom from Kiev lie at the root of the crisis which has left hundreds of thousands of Europeans without gas for the last six days.

Gazprom is seeking US$2 billion (S$2.96 billion), whereas the Ukrainian gas company Naftogaz has handed over around US$1.5 billion.

Moscow has also repeatedly accused Ukraine of siphoning off supplies destined for European Union customers throughout the dispute.

A reference to the Ukrainian declaration's planned release - written by hand on a formal accord to turn the gas taps back on this weekend - was cited by Russia as its reason for declaring the EU-brokered accord 'null and volid'. -- AFP