Gazprom says Ukraine's unpaid gas bill tops $5 billion

A worker turns a valve at an underground gas storage facility near Striy May 21, 2014. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian natural gas exporter Gazprom said on Thursday that Ukraine's outstanding debt for gas supplies stood at $5.3 billion (3.2 billion pounds) as of Aug. 1 and called on Kiev to ensure that gas continues to transit without disruption to Europe.

"Gazprom counts on Naftogaz of Ukraine to stick to its obligations on redemptions of arrears for the supplied gas and provision of smooth gas transit via Ukraine's territory," Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov said.