WASHINGTON, April 11. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, during the meeting with US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, voiced concern over Ukraine's growing debt for Russian gas.

The Russian minister told reporters on Friday that “historically close economic ties between Russia and Ukraine were noted, including the Russian side's providing aid totaling $35.4 billion in the gas sector alone in the past four years. Concern was expressed in connection with the growth of Ukraine's debt for Russian gas supplies, particularly in the context of preparation for 2014/2015 winter season”.

Russia is ready to participate in support for Ukraine together with the IMF and the European Union, Siluanov said.

The minister emphasized the necessity of "normalization of the political situation in Ukraine, where a constitutional reform must be carried out to form legitimate bodies of power."

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a letter to European leaders, called on the European Union for starting actions immediately to settle the debt. “There can be only one way out of the situation to hold consultations immediately on the economic, finance and energy ministerial level with the aim to work out coordinated actions to stabilize Ukraine's economy and ensure supply and transit of Russian gas strictly in accordance with the contract terms and start coordinated concrete actions as soon as possible,” Putin said in the letter.