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| Russia cuts Ukraine gas supplies | Russia cuts Ukraine gas supplies |
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| Russia appears to have sharply reduced gas supplies to Ukraine after the collapse of talks to resolve a row over unpaid bills and gas prices. | Russia appears to have sharply reduced gas supplies to Ukraine after the collapse of talks to resolve a row over unpaid bills and gas prices. |
| Russia's contract to supply Ukraine ended at 0700 GMT and gas giant Gazprom ordered a station supplying Ukraine to shut down shortly after, reports said. | |
| There are fears of energy shortages in Europe, as pipes across Ukraine carry about a fifth of the EU's gas needs. | There are fears of energy shortages in Europe, as pipes across Ukraine carry about a fifth of the EU's gas needs. |
| Ukraine denies owing money to Gazprom, and says EU gas transit is guaranteed. | Ukraine denies owing money to Gazprom, and says EU gas transit is guaranteed. |
| The European Commission said Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko had given her assurances that there would be "no disruption of gas supplies to clients in the European Union". | The European Commission said Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko had given her assurances that there would be "no disruption of gas supplies to clients in the European Union". |
| Europe's gas pipeline network Enlarge Map | Europe's gas pipeline network Enlarge Map |
| Reports quoting Ukraine state energy firm Naftogaz said on Thursday it had already seen a reduction of pressure in its gas pipelines after Russia cut supplies, and will now pump gas from its reserves. | Reports quoting Ukraine state energy firm Naftogaz said on Thursday it had already seen a reduction of pressure in its gas pipelines after Russia cut supplies, and will now pump gas from its reserves. |
| Earlier, in a broadcast from a pumping station near Russia's border with Ukraine, Russia's Vesti-24 TV station said Gazprom HQ in Moscow had ordered a cut-off, and the volume of gas flowing to Ukraine was a quarter of the normal level. | Earlier, in a broadcast from a pumping station near Russia's border with Ukraine, Russia's Vesti-24 TV station said Gazprom HQ in Moscow had ordered a cut-off, and the volume of gas flowing to Ukraine was a quarter of the normal level. |
| "The debt to Gazprom for gas supplied earlier was not paid. Despite verbal statements from Kiev, Gazprom did not see any money in its account," said Gazprom's chief executive Alexei Miller said. | "The debt to Gazprom for gas supplied earlier was not paid. Despite verbal statements from Kiev, Gazprom did not see any money in its account," said Gazprom's chief executive Alexei Miller said. |
| He criticised Ukraine's stance during the negotiations as "unconstructive", and said Gazprom had no legal reason to continue supplying gas to Ukraine. | He criticised Ukraine's stance during the negotiations as "unconstructive", and said Gazprom had no legal reason to continue supplying gas to Ukraine. |
| Mr Miller said the contract to supply gas depended on the full settlement of £2bn in gas bills and late-payment fines levied by Gazprom. | Mr Miller said the contract to supply gas depended on the full settlement of £2bn in gas bills and late-payment fines levied by Gazprom. |
| He also suggested that Kiev was seeking to provoke a wider dispute, saying he was "forming the impression that there are political forces in Ukraine which are very eager to see a gas conflict between our two countries". | He also suggested that Kiev was seeking to provoke a wider dispute, saying he was "forming the impression that there are political forces in Ukraine which are very eager to see a gas conflict between our two countries". |
| A similar row between Gazprom and Ukraine at the beginning of 2006 led to gas shortages in several EU countries. | |
| 'Unconstructive' | 'Unconstructive' |
| Naftogaz said it has paid $1.5bn (£1bn) in outstanding bills to RosUkrEnergo - a Switzerland-registered gas trading company which is acting as an intermediary - but not the fines imposed by Gazprom. | Naftogaz said it has paid $1.5bn (£1bn) in outstanding bills to RosUkrEnergo - a Switzerland-registered gas trading company which is acting as an intermediary - but not the fines imposed by Gazprom. |
| Gazprom's Alexei Miller said he blamed Ukraine entirely for the situation | Gazprom's Alexei Miller said he blamed Ukraine entirely for the situation |
| "Europe will receive all the gas Russia supplies it with," the agency quoted Bogdan Sokolovsky, the Ukrainian president's representative on energy issues, as saying. | "Europe will receive all the gas Russia supplies it with," the agency quoted Bogdan Sokolovsky, the Ukrainian president's representative on energy issues, as saying. |
| Gazprom is the world's largest gas producer and supplies a quarter of the European Union's gas needs - and 42% of its imports. Most of that is transported via Ukraine. | Gazprom is the world's largest gas producer and supplies a quarter of the European Union's gas needs - and 42% of its imports. Most of that is transported via Ukraine. |
| Russia's Vladimir Putin had earlier warned Ukraine not to disrupt the transit of gas to Europe. | Russia's Vladimir Putin had earlier warned Ukraine not to disrupt the transit of gas to Europe. |
| He warned of "very severe consequences" for Ukraine in terms of its relations with both Russia and European countries. | He warned of "very severe consequences" for Ukraine in terms of its relations with both Russia and European countries. |
| The two countries have failed to agree on a price for gas supplies in 2009. | |
| Mr Putin said Gazprom had been generous in offering Ukraine a price of $250 per 1,000 cubic metres of gas in 2009, given that the price in Europe was currently more than $500. | Mr Putin said Gazprom had been generous in offering Ukraine a price of $250 per 1,000 cubic metres of gas in 2009, given that the price in Europe was currently more than $500. |
| He said he understood that Ukraine was in "a difficult economic situation" which was worse than Russia's, but put the dispute down to a "war of the clans" between the Ukrainian Prime Minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, and President Viktor Yushchenko. | He said he understood that Ukraine was in "a difficult economic situation" which was worse than Russia's, but put the dispute down to a "war of the clans" between the Ukrainian Prime Minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, and President Viktor Yushchenko. |
| Are you in Ukraine? How concerned are you about the Russian decision? Send your comment using the form below: | Are you in Ukraine? How concerned are you about the Russian decision? Send your comment using the form below: |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |