Ok, let's assume it's all their fault and the whole fiasco is nothing but a devious game designed to break Ukraine (this is what the Western media have been suggesting).
Why, then, wouldn't EU simply give Ukraine the money to pay for the increase in price? Surely it would make sense to guarantee the stability of supply? It would also leave Russia no devilish moves to make - short of admitting it's doing it all on purpose (again, assuming this is the game Russia is playing).
Yet this (EU-assisted payment) option is not even on the table! What we read is heart-breaking stories about babies freezing in Eastern European countries, with an ominous image of Putin or Medvedev lest there remain any doubt as to who is to blame for this.
It seems to be that this cheap show is needed by the West more than by anybody else - to demonize Russia, contrary to all common sense (I mean come on guys - it's ANOTHER party blocking your gas)!
The US and EU are cynically doing all in their power to hurt Russia in its near abroad while at the same time insisting that Russia continue to subsidize Ukraine (yes, the $200 is a direct subsidy) - again, all this while they continue working on pulling it into NATO, an anti-Russian block by definition.
This takes some twisted logic to accept this as normal, but apparently Western media have what it takes since this is exactly the story they are pitching.
Actually, the European media (at least some of them) are now providing more balanced information. In today's Le Monde, for example, they say that Russia has resumed sending gas, but Ukraine is blocking it. "Dieu se rit des hommes qui se plaignent des conséquences alors qu'ils en chérissent les causes" Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet
