Russia has once again shut off its gas supply to Ukraine over a price dispute. This time Europe says it's ready with stockpiles, but the dispute is far from over: Russia swears to verify on Friday that Ukraine has not siphoned gas bound for Europe
The European Union's brand new Czech presidency was forced to urge Moscow Friday evening to resume full gas deliveries after the bloc's fears of drop in vital gas supplies became a reality. "The European Union calls for an urgent solution to the commercial dispute on gas supplies from the Russian Federation to Ukraine, and for an immediate resumption of full deliveries of gas to the EU member states," the EU presidency said in a statement. "Energy relations between the EU and its neighbors should be based on reliability and predictability. Existing commitments to supply and transit have to be honored under all circumstances," it added. Pipeline pressure is down in the main pipes leading from Ukraine into EU members Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, the Czech Republic's energy envoy, Vaclav Bartuska, told German new agency dpa.
The European Union's brand new Czech presidency was forced to urge Moscow Friday evening to resume full gas deliveries after the bloc's fears of drop in vital gas supplies became a reality.
"The European Union calls for an urgent solution to the commercial dispute on gas supplies from the Russian Federation to Ukraine, and for an immediate resumption of full deliveries of gas to the EU member states," the EU presidency said in a statement.
"Energy relations between the EU and its neighbors should be based on reliability and predictability. Existing commitments to supply and transit have to be honored under all circumstances," it added.
Pipeline pressure is down in the main pipes leading from Ukraine into EU members Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, the Czech Republic's energy envoy, Vaclav Bartuska, told German new agency dpa.
