Gazprom sends warning to Ukraine as deadline looms

MOSCOW, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Russia's gas export monopoly Gazprom (GAZP.MM: Quote, Profile, Research) sent a new warning to Ukraine on Thursday, four days ahead of the expiry of its ultimatum to Kiev to pay debt and sign a new supply deal or face reduced deliveries.

"The deadline is in force. No one has cancelled it and we plan to reduce supplies on March 3 if the problems are not solved," Gazprom's spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov told Reuters.

"The number of problems is huge - there is no supply contract for 2008 and nothing is clear with debts for 2007 because Naftogas paid $270 million with dividends that they believe they are owed by UkrGasEnergo," he said. (Reporting by Dmitry Zhdannikov; editing by Christian Lowe)