Putin says Russia to continue gas shipments via Ukraine

President Vladimir Putin said today that Russia intends to continue natural gas shipments via Ukraine despite a planned second pipeline to Germany.

"We will continue gas shipments (via Ukraine) as long as they are economically justified," Putin said during a press conference with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

For her part, Merkel said that "Ukraine's role as a transit country should be maintained and Germany is ready to play its role."