Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They
AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e
BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German
Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who
By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an
My Profile
Holiday Gift Guide
Gift ideas & reviews for this holiday season
Start Browsing
You are here:
Home
>
News
>
International
>
Article
Home
Business & Finance
News
U.S.
Politics
International
Technology
Entertainment
Sports
Lifestyle
Oddly Enough
Environment
Health
Science
Special Coverage
Video
Pictures
The Great Debate
Blogs
Weather
Reader Feedback
Do More With Reuters
RSS
Widgets
Mobile
Podcasts
Newsletters
You Witness News
Make Reuters My Homepage
Partner Services
CareerBuilder
Affiliate Network
Professional Products
Support (Customer Zone)
Reuters Media
Financial Products
About Thomson Reuters
Russia warns Ukraine of sanctions over gas debt
Wed Dec 24, 2008 2:22pm EST
Email | Print |
Share
| Reprints | Single Page
[-]
Text
[+]
By Tanya Mosolova
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia threatened Ukraine with sanctions over its gas debt on Wednesday but its gas monopoly Gazprom floated a compromise that could keep gas flowing to Kiev and ensure smooth transit to Europe after a January 1 deadline.
Russia and Ukraine are locked in a gas dispute, the fourth in four years, with Moscow warning it would cut supplies to Kiev from next year if Ukraine does not pay a debt for gas supplies, which Gazprom puts at $1.67 billion plus $450 million in fines.
European countries are watching the dispute nervously.
A previous dispute in 2006 briefly disrupted Russian gas supplies to the entire continent in the middle of winter, when Ukraine suspended transit to Europe, sending up spot gas prices.
"They should pay the money to the last ruble if they do not want their economy ultimately to face sanctions by Russia," Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in a televised interview.
"It is impossible to go on like that," he added without saying what sort of sanctions Moscow envisaged against Ukraine, which exported $15 billion worth of goods to Russia this year, including metals and heavy machinery.
There was no immediate comment on Medvedev's remarks by Ukrainian officials or the state energy company Naftogaz.
Moscow and Kiev are trading accusations daily in the latest gas clash. Both countries feel the dire effects of the global financial crisis on their markets and economies and continue to argue over the size of the debt and payment deadlines.
Nevertheless, Gazprom, Ukraine and industry analysts say the current situation is different from 2006 and that flows of transit gas from Russia, which covers a quarter of Europe's gas needs, won't be disrupted.
Over the past few months Ukraine has stockpiled a quarter of its annual gas consumption, meaning it can live on stocks without using transit gas even if Russia cuts supplies to Kiev for several months.
Analysts say that may ultimately prompt Gazprom to clinch a last-minute deal but worries persist and the European Union and the United States are calling on both sides to quickly settle the dispute.
COMPROMISE OFFERED
On Wednesday, Gazprom said Ukraine could avoid cuts in supplies on January 1 if it explains clearly how it will redeem its gas debt next year.
"We must have a clear understanding how we can get this money back," Gazprom's spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov told reporters when asked if the cuts could be avoided should Kiev fail to fully redeem the debt by Jan 1.
Medvedev also delivered a conciliatory comment: "Our goal is not to cut off anyone. Our goal to get our money back." Continued...
View article on single page
Share:
Del.icio.us
Digg
Mixx
My Web
Facebook
LinkedIn
Next Article:
Couple of steps left to finish Iraq-UK troop deal
Also on Reuters
Ancient water source vital for drought-hit Australia
Video
Video: Obama releases Blagojevich review
Slideshow
Slideshow: Bethlehem prepares for Christmas
More International News
Somali president decides to resign: spokesman
Crowds acclaim coup chief as new leader in Guinea
| Video
Flare-up dims truce hopes along Israel-Gaza border
| Video
World woes due to rejection of God: Ahmadinejad
Pakistan parliament urges India to accept help offer
More International News...
Related News
Russian leader: we will fight to defend interests
1:36pm EST
Ex-U.N. envoy raps Georgian leader, joins opposition
2:22pm EST
Russia wants ordinary people's help in Georgia ties
12:36pm EST
Editor's Choice
Slideshow
A selection of our best photos from the past 24 hours. Slideshow
Most Popular on Reuters
Articles
Video
No Christmas cheer as recession gathers steam | Video
U.S. recession deepens, countries boost spending | Video
Ancient water source vital for Australia
Russian strategic missile test fails: report
Claim Madoff acted alone meets skepticism
"What are you doing here?": man asks wife at brothel
Consumers fall deeper into debt: Equifax
Jumbo snow globes + sunlight = consumer hazard
Bethlehem fills up with Christmas pilgrims
SEC chief defends response to economic turmoil | Video
Most Popular Articles RSS Feed
Video
Obama releases Blagojevich review
Bush effigy pelted with shoes
Help Wanted
Burger scented cologne is sold out
Coup confusion in Guinea
Guinea coup attempt as leader dies
Talk of the Town
Ferris wheel traps passengers
Afghanistan's deadly border
Dramatic rescue of trapped motorists
Most Popular Videos RSS Feed
Reuters Deals
The global destination for corporate leaders, deal-makers and innovators
Knowledge to Act
Reuters.com:
Help and Contact Us |
Advertise With Us |
Mobile |
Newsletters |
RSS |
Interactive TV |
Labs |
Reuters in Second Life |
Archive |
Site Index |
Video Index
Thomson Reuters Corporate:
Copyright |
Disclaimer |
Privacy |
Professional Products |
Professional Products Support |
About Thomson Reuters |
Careers
International Editions:
Africa |
Arabic |
Argentina |
Brazil |
Canada |
China |
France |
Germany |
India |
Italy |
Japan |
Latin America |
Mexico |
Russia |
Spain |
United Kingdom |
United States
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.