From: MSN NicknameEagle_wng (Original Message) Sent: 2/29/2008 9:24 AM
Friday, 29 February 2008
Gazprom to reduce Ukraine's gas
Gazprom HQ in Moscow
Gazprom said talks with Ukraine had failed
Gazprom, Russia's gas monopoly, says it will cut supplies to Ukraine by 25% on Monday after talks between the two sides ended in failure.
The state-run Russian company said its efforts to get Ukraine to pay its debts had "reached a dead end".
Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Viktor Yushchenko reached an outline deal, but the details could not be agreed.
Western commentators accuse Moscow of using Gazprom as a political tool.
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 said it has been assured by Gazprom that supplies to the EU will not be affected by any renewed cut in exports to Ukraine.
Missing gas
Gazprom says it is owed $1.5bn ...
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