Russia-Ukraine gas talks collapse

[uppityperson]

Source: BBC

Talks to resolve a gas supply row between Ukraine and Russia have failed, the chief executive of Russian gas giant Gazprom has said.

Alexei Miller said gas supplies to Ukraine would be cut on Thursday but that Russia would do its best to guarantee supplies to Europe. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin earlier said that Ukraine would block supplies to Europe if no deal was done.

Ukraine denies owing money to Gazprom, and says it has guaranteed gas transit. Gazprom said it would cut Ukraine's supply from 0700 GMT on Thursday.

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The company also said that natural gas supplies to European neighbours would remain secure, reported AFP. "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, or 42% of the EU's gas imports, much of it via Ukraine.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7806616.stm

[Phred42]

1. So now Ukraine attacks Russia?

And Cheney sends in US troops?

[Madison knows]

2. I guess the Russian economy must be doing pretty well.