Mesic received the proposal when he visited Moscow in mid-December to discuss joint energy projects, the paper said.

"Russia would like to see the leading positions in the South Stream and Nord Stream gas pipelines to be held by former high-placed officials of the countries, across which these pipelines will pass," the paper said.

Russia

On Wednesday, Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuriy Prodan pledged the former Soviet republic would pay on schedule $892 million for Russian gas supplied in December.

However, President Viktor Yushchenko had earlier said Ukrainian national energy company Naftogaz lacked the funds to pay and ordered Vladimir Stelmakh, head of Ukraine's National Bank, to resolve the problem.