Russia Warns Europe Over Re-Selling Gas to Ukraine
Russia's state-controlled gas company, Gazprom, warned its European
customers Friday that it could limit supplies to countries that intend
to re-sell the natural gas on to Ukraine.
Along with a military conflict in the east, Ukraine is struggling with a
$4.5 billion gas debt to Russia. Gazprom last week cut gas shipments to
Ukraine after the talks to settle the debt and negotiate a lower price
failed. Supplies to Europe via Ukraine and other pipelines have not been
affected, however.
Ukraine has sought to counter the Russian move by trying to negotiate
gas supplies from other European countries that buy Russian gas.
European Union officials said they were working to set up so-called
"reverse flow" shipments back to Ukraine via Slovakia.
Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said Friday that the company is closely
monitoring the situation and may curb supplies to those nations that
would pump the Russian gas to Ukraine through reverse flow, which he
described as a "half-fraudulent scheme." He wouldn't name any specific
countries.
"Ukraine is treating the Russian gas on its territory like its own,"
Miller told reporters. "Ukraine has no right to use the gas in its
pipeline."
Asked whether Moscow was willing to resume talks with Ukraine, Miller
reiterated the company's stance, saying that the country needs to pay
down at least some amount of the debt before the talks could resume.
Ukrainian officials have admitted that the country cannot cuts its
dependence on the Russian gas right now but have unveiled plans on how
to diversify energy supplies and rationalize their use.
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http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/russia-warns-europe-selling-gas-ukraine-24331023
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