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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Gazprom cuts Ukraine gas supply | Gazprom cuts Ukraine gas supply |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Gazprom, Russia's gas monopoly, has cut supplies to Ukraine after talks between the two sides ended in failure. | |
| State-owned Gazprom said it would cut total shipments to Ukraine by 25%, but Ukraine's national gas firm Naftogas has claimed that the reduction is 35%. | |
| The dispute centres on a $1.5bn (£770m) debt that Gazprom says it is owed, and Ukraine officials say has been paid. | |
| Gazprom has offered assurances that supply to consumers in the rest of Europe will not be affected. | |
| A previous row between the two sides saw Russia cut gas to Ukraine in 2006, also hitting exports to Western Europe. | A previous row between the two sides saw Russia cut gas to Ukraine in 2006, also hitting exports to Western Europe. |
| The European Commission has called for a swift resolution despite assurances that supply to Europe will not be harmed. | |
| "The Commission has called (on) the two parties to find quickly a definitive solution to this commercial issue," said Commission spokesman Michele Cercone. | |
| "We continue to monitor closely the development of this situation," he added. | "We continue to monitor closely the development of this situation," he added. |
| Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov said: "Gas deliveries to European consumers will go on in full amount." | Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov said: "Gas deliveries to European consumers will go on in full amount." |
| He added that Gazprom was prepared to continue negotiations with Ukrainian officials. | He added that Gazprom was prepared to continue negotiations with Ukrainian officials. |
| Stalemate | Stalemate |
| Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Viktor Yushchenko reached an outline deal, but the details could not be agreed. | Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Viktor Yushchenko reached an outline deal, but the details could not be agreed. |
| Ukraine's deputy prime minister said the money owed had already been transferred and that documents to confirm this had been sent to Gazprom. | Ukraine's deputy prime minister said the money owed had already been transferred and that documents to confirm this had been sent to Gazprom. |
| But Gazprom's Mr Kupriyanov maintained that the problem had not been resolved. | But Gazprom's Mr Kupriyanov maintained that the problem had not been resolved. |
| "Gazprom is a reliable supplier of energy resources, but we cannot and should not deliver gas without payment," he said in a statement. | "Gazprom is a reliable supplier of energy resources, but we cannot and should not deliver gas without payment," he said in a statement. |
| Continued tensions? | Continued tensions? |
| The gas cut came hours after Gazprom chairman Dmitry Medvedev won the Russian presidential election with the support of President Vladimir Putin. | The gas cut came hours after Gazprom chairman Dmitry Medvedev won the Russian presidential election with the support of President Vladimir Putin. |
| The Kremlin has tightened its grip on Russia's oil and gas supplies and used this control to help create an economic boom in the country. | The Kremlin has tightened its grip on Russia's oil and gas supplies and used this control to help create an economic boom in the country. |
| Valery Nesterov from Troika Dialog stock brokers said he doubted the tense relationship between Moscow and the pro-Western Ukrainian government would change under Mr Medvedev's rule. | Valery Nesterov from Troika Dialog stock brokers said he doubted the tense relationship between Moscow and the pro-Western Ukrainian government would change under Mr Medvedev's rule. |
| "Clearly, the Russia-Ukraine gas relationship, which was already on the rocks, began to deteriorate sharply last month," he said. | "Clearly, the Russia-Ukraine gas relationship, which was already on the rocks, began to deteriorate sharply last month," he said. |
| He observed the unresolved problems include "Ukrainian debts to Gazprom, gas prices, the marketing scheme for gas, re-exports of Russian gas and more importantly the broader geopolitical disagreements between the two countries". | He observed the unresolved problems include "Ukrainian debts to Gazprom, gas prices, the marketing scheme for gas, re-exports of Russian gas and more importantly the broader geopolitical disagreements between the two countries". |