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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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Russia Halts All Gas to Europe Via Ukraine

Last pipeline shut as shortages spread as far as France

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(AP) – Having slowed to a trickle yesterday, Russia today shut off all its gas supplies to Europe through Ukraine, the latest move in a pricing dispute that has affected fuel deliveries to a dozen countries during a winter cold snap. Gazprom, the Russian state gas company, blamed Ukraine for shutting down the pipeline. But a spokesperson for Ukraine told the AP that "it was the Russian side's decision to stop all gas deliveries to Europe."

This morning Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Croatia, Serbia, and Turkey had all reported a halt in gas shipments, while countries as far west as France had reported substantial drops in supplies from Russia. About 80% of Russian gas to Europe is shipped via Ukraine. The cutoff comes on Orthodox Christmas, celebrated in Russia, Ukraine and a number of other Orthodox Christian countries in Europe.

Pipelines are seen near an oil and gas refinery in Brazi, Romania, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009. An official of Transgaz gas said Gazprom ceased pumping gas into the pipeline in Romania at 3am Tuesday.
Pipelines are seen near an oil and gas refinery in Brazi, Romania, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009. An official of Transgaz gas said Gazprom ceased pumping gas into the pipeline in Romania at 3am Tuesday.   (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
A gas pressure gauge rises at storage and transit point on the main gas pipeline from Russia in the village of Boyarka near the capital Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, Jan 3, 2009.
A gas pressure gauge rises at storage and transit point on the main gas pipeline from Russia in the village of Boyarka near the capital Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, Jan 3, 2009.   (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov)
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, right, and Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller talk during their meeting in the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, right, and Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller talk during their meeting in the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Druzhinin, Pool)
A gas pressure gauge rises at a storage and transit point on the main gas pipeline from Russia in the village of Boyarka near the capital Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009.
A gas pressure gauge rises at a storage and transit point on the main gas pipeline from Russia in the village of Boyarka near the capital Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov)
Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov at a media briefing at Gazprom headquarters in Moscow, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009.
Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov at a media briefing at Gazprom headquarters in Moscow, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009. "Given the crisis situation, we are ready to start talks at any moment," he said.   (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze)
An employee of Hungarian Mol Natural Gas Transporting Corp. holds his helmet while checking pressure in the pipeline forwarding Russian gas at a station in Vecses, Hungary, Tuesday, Jan. 6. 2009.
An employee of Hungarian Mol Natural Gas Transporting Corp. holds his helmet while checking pressure in the pipeline forwarding Russian gas at a station in Vecses, Hungary, Tuesday, Jan. 6. 2009.   (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)
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lrm
Jan 7, 09 9:54 AM CST
Civilized countries do not behave like this. Russia is such a sham democracy it's a joke. All hail czar Putin! Reply
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The dispute escalates, the rhetoric gets ugly
Daily Telegraph (UK)

What the shortages mean for customers
Bloomberg


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