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European gas supplies disrupted European gas supplies disrupted
(about 2 hours later)
Several European countries say they have suffered major disruption to their Russian gas supplies after Moscow cut deliveries to Ukraine.Several European countries say they have suffered major disruption to their Russian gas supplies after Moscow cut deliveries to Ukraine.
Turkey said all its supplies had been cut. Romania reported a 75% reduction. Bulgaria, Greece and Macedonia have also been affected, Bulgaria said. Turkey said all its gas supplies via Ukraine had been cut. Romania reported a 75% reduction. Bulgaria, Greece and Macedonia have also been affected.
Russian energy giant Gazprom decided to cut exports through Ukrainian pipelines by a fifth in a row over unpaid bills. Bulgaria, which is completely dependent on Russian gas via Ukraine, says it has sufficient supplies for a few days.
Russia stopped supplying gas to Ukraine last week.Russia stopped supplying gas to Ukraine last week.
A statement on the website of Ukrainian state company Naftogaz listed nine countries, including Germany, Poland, and Hungary which, it said, would receive reduced supplies. Russian energy giant Gazprom decided to cut exports through Ukrainian pipelines by a fifth in a row over unpaid bills.
"Naftogaz of Ukraine considers that in such a case if European users receive less volumes of natural gas, all claims of the noted countries must be directed to Gazprom," says the statement. The EU depends on Russia for around a quarter of its total gas supplies, some 80% of which is pumped through Ukraine.
Pipes across Ukraine carry about one-fifth of the European Union's gas needs. 'Crisis situation'
Early on Tuesday, the Ukrainian state company Naftogaz said Russia had cut gas transit supplies by more than two-thirds and listed nine countries, including Germany, Poland, and Hungary which would receive reduced supplies as a result. Start reducing it from today Vladimir Putin Russian prime minister, speaking on Monday
"Naftogaz of Ukraine considers that in such a case if European users receive less volumes of natural gas, all claims of the noted countries must be directed to Gazprom," said a statement on the company's website.
The Bulgarian government is currently in emergency talks to decide its next move in what it called a "crisis situation".
Russian gas supplies to Turkey via Ukraine have been completely cut, the Turkish government said.
The Turkish government announced it was increasing the flow through an alternative pipeline, under the Black Sea, to compensate.
The Austrian energy company OMV said it would now have to tap into its reserves after its supply fell to 10% of the expected level.
Czech supplies also fell significantly overnight, and Croatia, which imports 40% of its gas, said supply of Russian gas via Ukraine had completely halted.
German Economy Minister Michael Glos called on Russia and Ukraine on Tuesday to resume talks, and is due to hold talks with senior Gazprom officials later on Tuesday.
Many countries are now tapping strategic reserves, built up to cope with just such a development, says the BBC's Europe correspondent Nick Thorpe.
Gazprom has promised to pump extra supplies through other pipelines - the Yamal from Arctic Russia through Belarus to Germany, and the Blue Stream to Turkey under the Black Sea.
'Gas stolen''Gas stolen'
The move to reduce supplies going through the Ukraine by a fifth came after Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin held talks with Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller.The move to reduce supplies going through the Ukraine by a fifth came after Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin held talks with Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller.
Start reducing it from today Vladimir Putin Russian prime minister, speaking on Monday
Mr Miller recommended that deliveries via Ukraine should be reduced "by the amount stolen by Ukraine, that is 65.3 million cu/m of gas".Mr Miller recommended that deliveries via Ukraine should be reduced "by the amount stolen by Ukraine, that is 65.3 million cu/m of gas".
Future deliveries should be reduced on a daily basis by the amount of gas "stolen", he added.Future deliveries should be reduced on a daily basis by the amount of gas "stolen", he added.
"Start reducing it from today," Mr Putin told Mr Miller on Monday."Start reducing it from today," Mr Putin told Mr Miller on Monday.
Ukraine has denied stealing gas, saying technical problems are disrupting the onward flow of gas to Europe.Ukraine has denied stealing gas, saying technical problems are disrupting the onward flow of gas to Europe.
Gazprom, in which the Russian state owns a majority stake, said it would compensate by sending more gas to Europe via other routes.Gazprom, in which the Russian state owns a majority stake, said it would compensate by sending more gas to Europe via other routes.
DivisionsDivisions
The row between Russia and Ukraine has been simmering for weeks. Gazprom says Ukraine owes it money; Ukraine says it has paid its debt. The two sides have also failed to agree on the price Ukraine should pay for gas in 2009. The row between Russia and Ukraine has been simmering for weeks. Gazprom says Ukraine owes it more than $600m (£413m); Ukraine says it has paid its debt. The two sides have also failed to agree on the price Ukraine should pay for gas in 2009.
Europe's gas pipeline network Enlarge MapEurope's gas pipeline network Enlarge Map
A similar row between Gazprom and Ukraine at the beginning of 2006 led to gas shortages in several EU countries.A similar row between Gazprom and Ukraine at the beginning of 2006 led to gas shortages in several EU countries.
EU leaders have been meeting in Brussels to discuss the dispute and a delegation has also been sent for talks with both Ukrainian and Gazprom officials.EU leaders have been meeting in Brussels to discuss the dispute and a delegation has also been sent for talks with both Ukrainian and Gazprom officials.
But, say correspondents, the EU is reluctant to get involved in what it describes as a commercial dispute - reflecting Europe's own deep divisions on how to respond to Russia.But, say correspondents, the EU is reluctant to get involved in what it describes as a commercial dispute - reflecting Europe's own deep divisions on how to respond to Russia.
Have you been affected?Have you been affected?
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