Russia could cut its gas supplies to Europe, warns Ukrainian Prime Minister
Russia plans to stop supplying gas to Europe this winter, said Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk.
Moscow cut off gas supplies to Kiev in June after a dispute over gas prices emerged between the two countries, but it has continued to supply Europe, despite the sanctions both sides have reciprocally imposed onto each other in the wake of the conflict in Eastern Ukraine.
"The situation in (Ukraine's) energy sector is difficult. We know of Russia's plans to block (gas) transit even to European Union countries this winter," Yatseniuk told a government meeting, according to a report by Reuters.
Some 50% of Russian gas exports to the EU went through Ukraine in 2013 and Yatseniuk's comments could see tension between Russia and Ukraine escalate yet again at a time when both countries' presidents are under international pressure to bring the conflict to a halt.
The relationship between the two former Soviet Union countries has often been complicated as far as gas supplies are concerned, with Russia's gas exports to Europe disrupted in 2006 and in 2009 because of price-related issues.
The on-going conflict, concentrated in the Donbass region, one of Ukraine's major sources of coal, has seen Kiev seeking alternative coal supplies as "Russia and their mercenaries are bombing and destroying mines", said Yatseniuk.
DC