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EU warns of legal action over gas EU warns of legal action over gas
(about 4 hours later)
The European Commission has warned Russian and Ukrainian gas companies of legal action over a dispute which has left many Europeans without heat.The European Commission has warned Russian and Ukrainian gas companies of legal action over a dispute which has left many Europeans without heat.
Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said he would advise EU energy companies to sue unless Gazprom and Naftogaz move fast to restore supplies.Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said he would advise EU energy companies to sue unless Gazprom and Naftogaz move fast to restore supplies.
Diplomatic pressure is growing, with Bulgarian, Slovak and Moldovan PMs holding talks in Moscow and Kiev. Bulgarian, Slovak and Moldovan prime ministers have held talks in Moscow and Kiev but the deadlock remains.
Supplies remain cut off because of a payment row between Russia and Ukraine. Supplies remain cut off because of a row between Russia and Ukraine.
'Matter of urgency''Matter of urgency'
Mr Barroso told the European Parliament the dispute between Ukraine and Russia was "most unacceptable and incredible".Mr Barroso told the European Parliament the dispute between Ukraine and Russia was "most unacceptable and incredible".
He said if agreements, sponsored by the European Union, are not observed "as a matter of urgency", he would advise energy companies that have deals with Gazprom and Naftogaz, to file lawsuits against them.He said if agreements, sponsored by the European Union, are not observed "as a matter of urgency", he would advise energy companies that have deals with Gazprom and Naftogaz, to file lawsuits against them.
After 12 days, we will be obliged to resort to measures never seen in our history Robert Fico Slovak prime minister Strategy behind Europe's gas gameAre you affected by gas cut-off? Press fears gas row worsening After 12 days, we will be obliged to resort to measures never seen in our history Robert Fico Slovak prime minister Strategy behind Europe's gas gameAre you affected by gas cut-off? Press fears gas row worsening
"If the agreement is not honoured, it means that Russia and Ukraine can no longer be regarded as reliable," he said. Despite optimism on Tuesday that the dispute was nearing an end, the rhetoric from Russia and Ukraine is increasingly antagonistic.
MEPs are due to debate the situation later on Wednesday. Moscow says gas is flowing again from Russia to Ukraine for export, but Kiev says it is technically unable to pass it on to its neighbours.
Moscow says gas is flowing from Russia to Ukraine for export, but Kiev says it is technically unable to pass it on to its neighbours. The Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of holding Europe hostage, countering Ukrainian accusations of Russian blackmail.
Despite optimism on Tuesday that the dispute was nearing an end, there is increasingly antagonistic rhetoric from both sides.
See map of affected area See map of affected area
Eighteen other European countries have been affected by the gas supply row.Eighteen other European countries have been affected by the gas supply row.
Hundreds of thousands of people are still without heating in eastern and south-eastern Europe after Moscow stopped supplies routed through Ukraine last week.Hundreds of thousands of people are still without heating in eastern and south-eastern Europe after Moscow stopped supplies routed through Ukraine last week.
Bulgaria has had to close schools and other public buildings, due to the cuts. Bulgaria, one of the hardest hit countries, has had to close schools and other public buildings, due to the cuts.
In Kiev, Slovakia's prime minister told his Ukrainian counterpart Yuliya Tymoshenko his country had 11 days of gas reserves left. The Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev told Mr Putin that millions of Europeans are "truly suffering".
Robert Fico said: "After 12 days, we will be obliged to resort to measures never seen in our history. " Slovakia is desperate to get supplies of gas flowing again Modolva's Prime Minister Zinaida Greceanii told the meeting in Moscow: "Our consumers do not understand why they should freeze when there is a contract for gas supplies."
He added: "We are not interested in your bilateral relations with Russia, we are interested in the transit of Russian gas through your territory. Slovakia is desperate to get supplies of gas flowing again
"We ask you to start bilateral talks between the Russian and Ukrainian prime ministers." Earlier, Slovakia's prime minister was in Kiev. He told his Ukrainian counterpart Yuliya Tymoshenko that his country had 11 days of gas reserves left.
Mr Fico then moved to Moscow, to join the prime ministers of Bulgaria and Moldova for a meeting with the Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin. Robert Fico said: "After 12 days, we will be obliged to resort to measures never seen in our history. "
Slovakia and the Baltic states are entirely dependent on gas from Russia.Slovakia and the Baltic states are entirely dependent on gas from Russia.
Meanwhile, Polish president Lech Kaczynski, whose country also relies entirely on Russia for its gas, will meet his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yushchenko. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko went to Poland, another country that relies entirely on Russia for its gas, to explain his case to his Polish counterpart.
Technical arguments Compromise difficult
An agreement, brokered late on Monday by the Czech prime minister, to allow international experts to monitor the flow of gas through Ukraine, was designed to overcome the deep feeling of mistrust between the two former Soviet neighbours.An agreement, brokered late on Monday by the Czech prime minister, to allow international experts to monitor the flow of gas through Ukraine, was designed to overcome the deep feeling of mistrust between the two former Soviet neighbours.
Russian switched on the gas supply to Ukraine at the Sudzha pumping station on Tuesday morning in what Moscow officials described as a test delivery. Russia switched on the gas supply to Ukraine at the Sudzha pumping station on Tuesday morning.
But Ukraine said it could not physically pump the gas to Europe in the volumes Russia was currently providing, or along the pipeline route Moscow wanted it to take. But Ukraine said it could not physically pump the gas to Europe in the volumes Russia was providing, or along the pipeline route Moscow wanted it to take.
Russian energy giant Gazprom dismissed that claim. It says the taps are open on the Russian side.Russian energy giant Gazprom dismissed that claim. It says the taps are open on the Russian side.
The arguments are hugely technical, but the fact is they cannot both be right, says the BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in Kiev. The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in Kiev says it is now difficult to see how a compromise can be brokered.
Both Moscow and Kiev appear to be waiting for the other to admit defeat, our correspondent adds.
  
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Have you been affected by this dispute? You can send us your experiences using the form below:Have you been affected by this dispute? You can send us your experiences using the form below:
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