Call to power
20-01-2009, 20:37
Now we can finally get back to work on solutions to todays problems...
Russia opens gas taps to Europe
Russia has resumed gas supplies to Ukraine and Europe, raising hopes of an end to weeks of shortages.
Officials confirmed that gas had reached Ukraine, Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria - some of the countries worst hit by the disruption to supplies.
The move comes after the Russian and Ukrainian prime ministers agreed a new contract on the price of gas.
Millions of Europeans have been without heat since the failure to renew the old contract, which expired on 1 January.
---
But after several false dawns, the EU would only "be fully satisfied after three or four days of supplies to Europe," said Czech minister Martin Riman, speaking for the EU.
Gas flows were resumed after Russia and Ukraine finally agreed prices at which Ukraine would buy Russian gas, and ship it to European customers.
Previously Ukraine has paid a heavily discounted rate. But Gazprom confirmed that Ukraine would start paying the market rate - with a 20% discount for the rest of this year.
Future uncertain
However, Bohdan Sokolovsky, energy adviser to Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko - a bitter rival of the prime minister - criticised the deal, saying it favoured Russia and would impose hardship on Ukraine.
And, although the deal lasts for 10 years, the fine-print remains unknown - leading to fears that the row could flare up again in the future, says the BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in Kiev.
Gazprom said the deal allowed it to demand that Ukraine pay for gas in advance if it misses just one payment.
Missed payments were one of the issues that sparked the row, and Gazprom says Ukraine still owes it $600m in fines.
"There is no reason to believe that the situation with payments will improve after a significant price rise," Gazprom's chief Alexei Miller warned.
Nevertheless, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin expressed hope that the compromise between the two countries "will allow us to build long-term, reliable and stable relations" with Ukraine and Europe.
As gas flows restarted, the EU's energy commissioner said he had no grounds to support Russia's claims that Ukraine had been stealing gas on its way to Europe - one of Russia's justifications for cutting supplies.
"I have no evidence that Ukraine took gas without permission," Andris Piebalgs said at a press conference in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev.
BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7839053.stm)
so it seems everything has worked out though I suspect we are going to see some nice pipelines around Ukraine soon but do you think this is only the start of the problems Ukraine is going to start having?
Russia opens gas taps to Europe
Russia has resumed gas supplies to Ukraine and Europe, raising hopes of an end to weeks of shortages.
Officials confirmed that gas had reached Ukraine, Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria - some of the countries worst hit by the disruption to supplies.
The move comes after the Russian and Ukrainian prime ministers agreed a new contract on the price of gas.
Millions of Europeans have been without heat since the failure to renew the old contract, which expired on 1 January.
---
But after several false dawns, the EU would only "be fully satisfied after three or four days of supplies to Europe," said Czech minister Martin Riman, speaking for the EU.
Gas flows were resumed after Russia and Ukraine finally agreed prices at which Ukraine would buy Russian gas, and ship it to European customers.
Previously Ukraine has paid a heavily discounted rate. But Gazprom confirmed that Ukraine would start paying the market rate - with a 20% discount for the rest of this year.
Future uncertain
However, Bohdan Sokolovsky, energy adviser to Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko - a bitter rival of the prime minister - criticised the deal, saying it favoured Russia and would impose hardship on Ukraine.
And, although the deal lasts for 10 years, the fine-print remains unknown - leading to fears that the row could flare up again in the future, says the BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in Kiev.
Gazprom said the deal allowed it to demand that Ukraine pay for gas in advance if it misses just one payment.
Missed payments were one of the issues that sparked the row, and Gazprom says Ukraine still owes it $600m in fines.
"There is no reason to believe that the situation with payments will improve after a significant price rise," Gazprom's chief Alexei Miller warned.
Nevertheless, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin expressed hope that the compromise between the two countries "will allow us to build long-term, reliable and stable relations" with Ukraine and Europe.
As gas flows restarted, the EU's energy commissioner said he had no grounds to support Russia's claims that Ukraine had been stealing gas on its way to Europe - one of Russia's justifications for cutting supplies.
"I have no evidence that Ukraine took gas without permission," Andris Piebalgs said at a press conference in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev.
BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7839053.stm)
so it seems everything has worked out though I suspect we are going to see some nice pipelines around Ukraine soon but do you think this is only the start of the problems Ukraine is going to start having?