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| Europe |
| Russia cuts off gas as Ukraine rejects proposal |
| 2006-01-01 |
| Moscow/Kiev - Russia began cutting off natural gas supplies to Kiev at 0700 GMT on Sunday, a move described by Ukraine President Yushchenko 'as showing clear signs of a threat to our national security'. Officials at Gazprom Schroeder must be helping Putin with a spine injection., Russia's state-run gas concern, said Russia began reducing pressure in gas pipelines to Ukraine immediately after a 0700 GMT deadline passed. The Russian energy giant had threatened to cut Ukraine's gas supplies off, if Kiev did not agree to a five-fold price hike by midnight on New Year's Eve. After meetings with senior government and energy industry officials, Yushchenko declared Sunday the Russian severance as directly threatening Ukrainian national security, and announced 'readiness' ask nuclear club nations and the European Union to intervene in the conflict with Moscow. 'We consider this an obvious form of economic pressure ... and a violation (by Russia) of treaty obligations,' Yushchenko said. In 1996, Ukraine became the first country in history to renounce nuclear weapons, in exchange for a commitment from the U.S. and Russia of support in case of an external threat to the former Soviet republic. Yushchenko's threat, if made good, would mark a dramatic escalation of a long-running energy conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Representatives from both countries have been wrangling over gas prices for almost a year. Gazprom said it was only allowing gas intended for Europe into Ukraine, and was halting all other deliveries including its own supplies to Ukraine, and Turkmenistan gas contracted by the Ukrainians, and delivered to Ukraine via pipelines across Russia, Kuprianov said. Ukrnafta executives were quick to retaliate, and to try and shift the onus for economic fall-out from the boycott onto Moscow by declaring mid-afternoon that as far as Ukraine was concerned, Gazprom had reduced overall volumes intended for Europe. 'This could bring a reduction of pressure in pipelines and as a result a limitation in deliveries of gas to Europe, and a partial reduction to Ukrainian consumers,' a Sunday Ukrnafta statement said in part. The initial effect of the severance on Ukrainian households was negligible, with cities across the country reporting normal gas supplies. |
| Posted by:Nimble Spemble |
| #6 There are two lines serving Poland and Germany, as can be seen on this map. Once Molotov-Ribbentrop II comes in effect, with the pipeline on the Baltic seabed, Putin will have most of Europe in his back pocket. Interesting. Norway must step up to the plate with their gas, otherwise... |
| Posted by: Rafael 2006-01-01 22:53 |
| #5 Despite the tone of this and similar articles, Ukraine holds most of the cards. The only way Russia can stop gas supply to Ukraine is to stop all flow through the pipeline, which will cause real pain in Europe. Look for the Euros to pay the difference between what Russia wants and what Ukraine is willing to pay. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2006-01-01 22:45 |
| #4 rriiggghhtt. Gasline = accidents, over and over |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-01-01 21:12 |
| #3 The Russkies play hardball. Ukraine has no choice but to back down. |
| Posted by: gromky 2006-01-01 21:10 |
| #2 Only a fool would think Ukraine wouldn't retaliate. Eastern Europe is served by the trans-Ukraine gas line and is effectively shut down. Poland confirms it. Capt Ed is all over this. Yuschenko also has the option of telling Russia Navy to get out the Ukrainian ports on the black Sea....Putin must think Yuschenko doesn't remember getting poisoned in the campaign. |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-01-01 18:10 |
| #1 "...as far as Ukraine was concerned, Gazprom had reduced overall volumes intended for Europe...The initial effect of the severance on Ukrainian households was negligible..." Europeans may have to rethink their "global warming" positions. |
| Posted by: Darrell 2006-01-01 17:19 |
