Putin calls on EU to lend Ukraine money for gas

MOSCOW, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Monday called on the European Union to lend Ukraine "at a least a billion" to help avoid a new gas pricing spat with Russia and supply disruptions to Europe.

"If there are problems, we are asking our European colleagues to get involved and lend Ukraine the necessary money. Give them a least a billion. Why being greedy? They (the EU) have the money, so why don't they disburse it a bit?" Putin said after talks with Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen.

Putin did not specify the currency of the loan.

(Moscow Newsroom, + 7 495 775 12 42)