Russia turned up the pressure on Ukraine on Thursday as Dmitry Medvedev, president, ordered Gazprom to enforce payment on $2.4bn in gas debts even as Kiev struggles to weather the global financial crisis and a political crisis at home.

“We need to fully clarify our position on Ukraine’s debt and recover it either on a voluntary or compulsory basis,” Mr Medvedev told Alexei Miller, the Gazprom chief executive, in comments broadcast on Russian television.