Germany, Russia's biggest political ally in Europe, tonight warned that its supply of Russian gas could swiftly collapse as the dispute between Ukraine and Moscow intensified and Europeans began freezing in their homes.The Russian monopoly provider Gazprom accused Ukraine of filching gas supplies due for Europe.The row escalated today, with gas volumes slashed even further, as a swathe of countries in eastern and southern Europe reported a complete shutdown of supplies or serious disruption on the coldest day of the winter. Russian shipments of gas to the Balkans, including Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Greece, Bosnia, Serbia and, beyond them, to Turkey shut down or were slashed by up to two thirds.The disruption of supplies also spread to Italy, Austria, Slovakia, the Czech republic, Hungary and Slovenia as well as Poland.Amid a growing political and diplomatic crisis, Oleh Dubyna, head of Naftogaz, Ukraine's state energy firm, said he would restart negotiations on price contracts in Moscow on Thursday with Gazprom executives.
Germany, Russia's biggest political ally in Europe, tonight warned that its supply of Russian gas could swiftly collapse as the dispute between Ukraine and Moscow intensified and Europeans began freezing in their homes.
The Russian monopoly provider Gazprom accused Ukraine of filching gas supplies due for Europe.
The row escalated today, with gas volumes slashed even further, as a swathe of countries in eastern and southern Europe reported a complete shutdown of supplies or serious disruption on the coldest day of the winter. Russian shipments of gas to the Balkans, including Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Greece, Bosnia, Serbia and, beyond them, to Turkey shut down or were slashed by up to two thirds.
The disruption of supplies also spread to Italy, Austria, Slovakia, the Czech republic, Hungary and Slovenia as well as Poland.
Amid a growing political and diplomatic crisis, Oleh Dubyna, head of Naftogaz, Ukraine's state energy firm, said he would restart negotiations on price contracts in Moscow on Thursday with Gazprom executives.
The move by Russia came amid a deepening dispute over gas prices with Ukraine, which hosts a pipeline supplying gas from its bigger neighbour to countries across Europe. Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria and Macedonia reported that all supplies of Russian gas had been cut, while Romania said that its deliveries had fallen by 75 per cent. Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic - which currently holds the presidency of the EU - are also suffering shortages, which are taking effect as Europe experiences freezing temperatures. The dramatic reduction came after Vladimir Putin, the Russian prime minister, ordered the state energy giant Gazprom to cut deliveries through Ukraine on Monday to punish it over a price dispute and for allegedly siphoning off gas without paying. Ukrainian said that Russia had since slashed Europe-bound gas deliveries by nearly 60 per cent.
The move by Russia came amid a deepening dispute over gas prices with Ukraine, which hosts a pipeline supplying gas from its bigger neighbour to countries across Europe.
Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria and Macedonia reported that all supplies of Russian gas had been cut, while Romania said that its deliveries had fallen by 75 per cent. Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic - which currently holds the presidency of the EU - are also suffering shortages, which are taking effect as Europe experiences freezing temperatures.
The dramatic reduction came after Vladimir Putin, the Russian prime minister, ordered the state energy giant Gazprom to cut deliveries through Ukraine on Monday to punish it over a price dispute and for allegedly siphoning off gas without paying. Ukrainian said that Russia had since slashed Europe-bound gas deliveries by nearly 60 per cent.
[Murdoch Alert] Ad astra per aspera
Europeans began freezing in their homes
Europeans have been freezing in the streets for some time now, like every winter.
Some countries depend more on Russian gas, and have less storage capacity, o things could get dicey faster there, but we're not here yet. Remember that we're at the beginning og winter, which means that storage has to be full pretty much everywhere to cope wit hthe next couple months of cold weather... In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
The SlangReport points out the double entendre..."full of it" equals "full of shit" in the original vernacular. Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.
Frank Delaney ~ Ireland
