<P> There were several theories as to alleged political motives behind the gas disputes, including Russia exerting pressure on Ukrainian politicians or attempting to subvert EU and NATO expansions to include Ukraine . Others suggested that Ukraine's actions were being orchestrated by the United States . Both sides tried to win sympathy for their arguments fighting a PR war . </P> <P> In August 2009, it was agreed that loans worth $1.7 billion would be given to Ukraine to help it provide stable supplies of Russian gas to Europe by the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, in return for reforms in Ukraine's gas sector . </P> <P> On 28 December 2009, the Slovakian government announced that Russia warned it would stop oil supplies to Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic over a transit price dispute with Ukraine . However, the next day, Ukraine's Naftohaz issued a statement confirming that Russia agreed to a 30% increase in the transit fees through Ukraine . The alleged rise in the tariff would be from $7.8 to $9.50 (or € 6.6) per tonne of oil going through Ukraine in 2010 . Additionally, unlike previous payments, new payments would be made in Euros as this was one of Ukraine's demands . Russia and Ukraine also agreed on the volume of oil to be transported through Ukraine . The overall amount of oil to be transported to Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Hungary through Ukraine in 2010 will be 15 million tonnes--a decrease from 17.1 million tonnes in 2008 . </P> <P> After meeting her Russian counterpart Putin, Ukrainian Prime Minister Tymoshenko declared on 3 September 2009, "Both sides, Russia and Ukraine, have agreed that at Christmas, there won't be (any halt in gas supplies), as usually happens when there are crises in the gas sector . Everything will be quite calm on the basis of the current agreements". Tymoshenko also said that the Ukrainian and Russian premiers had agreed that sanctions would not be imposed on Ukraine for the country buying less gas than expected and that the price of Russian gas transit across Ukraine may grow 65% till 70% in 2010 . A week before Gazprom had said it expected gas transit fees via Ukraine to rise by up to 59% in 2010 . </P>

When did russia cut off gas to ukraine