In the continuing dispute between Moscow and Kiev, the Russian state energy monopoly Gazprom says Ukraine is threatening to reduce Russian gas supplies crossing its territory to other parts of Europe. Rupert Wingfield-Hayes has just sent this report from Moscow.
“If Russia’s state-run gas giant Gazprom is to be believed, Ukraine may be on the verge of cutting gas supplies to the rest of Europe. According to a Gazprom spokesman Ukraine is threatening to cut supplies by 16 million cubit meters a day. But that statement has been contradicted by Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. She says Ukraine will not violate its commitments to natural gas exports to Europe even a tiny bit. The European Union meanwhile says it has not been informed of any of reduction in supplies coming through the Ukrainian pipeline network.”