DHAKA: Russian president Vladimir Putin threatened to cut off Ukraine’s gas unless Europe drummed up the cash to cover its debts and ensure its own supplies in a flaring standoff over the splintered ex-Soviet state.

The veteran strongman’s most direct warning about deliveries on which EU nations’ economies depend came with Ukraine facing a new secession crisis following its loss of Crimea and relations between Moscow and the West plumbing new post-Cold War lows.

Ukraine’s embattled leaders tried to keep what was left of their nation of 46 million people whole by vowing to amnesty pro-Russian separatists occupying eastern state buildings if they laid down their arms and halted a four-day seize.

The militants’ demand to join Russia has added extra urgency to the first round of direct talks that EU and US diplomats have managed to convince both Moscow and Kiev to attend in either Geneva or Vienna on April 17, reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 0255 HRS, APR 11, 2014