Ukraine faces gas cutoff over $2.1 billion debt

[Robbien]

Source: AP

MOSCOW (AP) - Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev sternly urged Ukraine on Wednesday to fully pay its $2.1 billion debt for Russian natural gas supplies or face sanctions, as a Jan. 1 deadline for payment loomed.

Medvedev's statement was the strongest indication to date that Ukraine may face a repeat of January 2006 cutoff of Russian gas shipments which led to a reduction of supplies in Europe. It will likely raise worries in the European Union, which depends on Russia for 40 percent of its gas imports.
«If Ukraine fails to pay, we will use a whole arsenal of possible measures, there must be no illusions on this score,» Medvedev said in televised remarks.

. . .

Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov said Ukraine's gas company Naftogaz told Gazprom officials that they wouldn't be able to pay the debt. «We asked them a straight question, will you pay up by the end of the year and we received the answer 'no'.

. . .

But in a sign that both countries did not want to upset European consumers, Kupriyanov voiced hope that Ukraine wouldn't siphon gas intended for Europe from a transit pipeline crossing its territory as it did three years ago. He said Ukraine this time has enough gas saved in storage facilities to fulfill its transit obligations.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko made a similar statement earlier in the day, saying that supplies to Europe would be uninterrupted, as Ukraine has some gas saved up.

Read more: http://www.pr-inside.com/ukraine-faces-gas-cutoff-over-r981674.htm

[dipsydoodle]

1. I thought USA taxpayers paid their gas bills for them

Come on - pay up. :sarcasm:

[ohio2007]

10. $2 billion? Why, thats chump change to the US congress

[WriteDown]

2. Economic terrorism at its best.

The attack on the Ukraine begins again.

[Kolesar]

7. "Limited sovereignty"

Rather like the relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia: a nation loses influence to their hydrocarbon supplier.

[Alamuti Lotus]

9. "economic terrorism" = requiring that bills be paid for services provided?

Odd definition..

[TheLastMohican]

13. I beg your pardon?

Economic terrorism?
It is very simple - you don't pay the bills - you go broke and all your valuable stuff is auctioned. Isn't this what the capitalism is all about?
I guess Russia learned well from us what it is like to be a ruthless capitalist.

[Fiendish Thingy]

3. Both Russia and Ukraine have nuclear weapons...

let's hope this doesn't get too out of control...:scared:

[TheLastMohican]

14. Ukraine doesn's have nuclear weapons

Not since 1993.

[martymar64]

4. I guess Ukraine better cough up some cash.

Sounds like they think Russia should just give away it's natural gas for free. They got some free gas by siphoning from the transit pipeline a few years ago. With a dishonest customer like that, Russia shouldn't budge an inch.

[Robbien]

6. Yeah, the Ukraine is taking advantage of its friendly status with the West

and is pushing Russia expecting that Russia will be blamed again if the pipes are turned off.

[cosmicone]

5. This was caused by the West's meddling in the Russian sphere of influence. n/t

[entanglement]

8. Time for the 'friends' of Ukraine (cough...IMF..cough) to step in with 'aid'? (read exorbitant loan)

[Kurska]

11. So sad, sometimes it really does seem like the ukraine is a nation not meant to exist

Russia and the Ukraine are just to intertwined in history and culture (not to mention population) and so long as the much bigger, much strong russia finds a way to undermine Ukraine it seems to always end in a failed experiment or russian puppet.

[TheLastMohican]

15. US should not have meddled there in the very first place

This whole "orange revolution" stuff and sponsoring of Yushenko is not scoring points with ukrainian public and russians.
Ukraine used to get russian gas at dirt cheap prices when it was considered a russian ally, well since Yushenko is conducting an open russophobish policy towards ukrainians russian-speaking citizens and russians as a whole there is no free cookie for him.
He should pay for the gas or admit that Ukraine is bankrupt.

Ukrains is going to default in the nearest 3-6 months with the majority of their banks collapsing. Remember my words.

[ohio2007]

12. Ukraine should refrain from suppressing the Russian minorities in their midst

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=c04_1230291009


snip
Yushchenko thanked Russia for offering to send naval personnel from its Black Sea fleet, stationed at the Ukrainian port city of Sevastopol, to help with the rescue, but said they were not needed.

Neglect of safety precautions has led to frequent explosions in apartment buildings and public facilities in the ex-Soviet nations.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/26/ukraine-explosion

just sayin'
accidents do happen

[ogneopasno]

16. This has happened before.