Gazprom cuts gas exports via Ukraine to 65 mcm

MOSCOW, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Russian gas export monopoly Gazprom GAP.MM said on Tuesday it had supplied around 65 million cubic metres of gas to Europe via Ukraine on Tuesday, compared with around 300 mcm in previous days.

"There was a request for 130 mcm. We have supplied those volumes minus 65.3 mcm," Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov told reporters.

Gazprom had accused Ukraine of stealing 65.3 mcm since Jan. 1 and had said it would reduce supplies to Europe by that amount.

Kupriyanov did not explain why the request for supplies was 130 mcm, while in previous days Gazprom was shipping around 300 mcm to Europe. He said Gazprom was increasing supplies via alternative routes to its customers in Europe. (Reporting by Katya Golubkova, writing by Dmitry Zhdannikov; editing by Robin Paxton)