Ukraine's
PM says Russia plans to block gas flows to Europe
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[August 27, 2014]
KIEV (Reuters) - Ukrainian Prime
Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said on Wednesday that Kiev knew of plans by
Russia to halt gas flows this winter to Europe, in comments which are
likely to escalate the standoff between Moscow and the West.
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Russia halted gas supplies to Ukraine in June over a gas pricing
dispute, but it has continued supplies to Europe, its largest
market.
"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," he told a government meeting.
Yatseniuk did not say how he knew about the Russian plans.
Last year, half of Russian gas exports to the EU were shipped via
Ukraine. Russian gas exporter Gazprom declined immediate comment and
the Energy Ministry was not immediately available to comment.
Russian gas supplies via Ukraine to Europe were disrupted in the
winters of 2006 and 2009 because of pricing disagreements between
Russia and Ukraine.
The latest gas pricing dispute is closely intertwined with a bigger
standoff between Moscow and Kiev.
Ukraine's Moscow-leaning president Viktor Yanukovich fled his
country following weeks of street clashes by people angry that he
had rejected an association agreement with the European Union.
Moscow subsequently annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in March,
while pro-Moscow separatists have staged an insurgency in the east
of the country.
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The area where the fighting is concentrated, known as the Donbass,
is a major source of coal for Ukraine.
Yatseniuk said the government has been trying to diversify coal
supplies as "Russia and their mercenaries are bombing and destroying
mines". Russia has denied any involvement in the conflict.
(Reporting by Natalia Zinets; writing by Vladimir Soldatkin; editing
by Louise Heavens)
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