Last week Ukraine stopped piping natural gas to rebel-controlled areas in the east, blaming the decision on sub-standard infrastructure destroyed by protracted fighting. Moscow promptly stepped in and began supplying these areas directly, but was billing Kiev for its trouble, counting the gas deliveries to the rebels against the amount the Ukrainians prepaid late last year. As a result, Gazprom was threatening to cut off supplies to Ukraine as early as today.
But then, as Reuters reported yesterday, Gazprom appeared to make a concession of sorts, agreeing to table the question of who pays for that gas as it enters negotiations …read more
Source: The American Interest
