Putin in new Ukraine gas warning

[dipsydoodle]

Source: BBC News

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has said Ukraine might be having problems paying for gas, raising new concerns over European supplies.

Mr Putin said the European Union had not yet given Ukraine the money it had promised to help provide stable supplies of Russian gas to Europe.

He also blamed Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko for blocking payment.

In January, many countries were left short of gas because of a payment dispute between Moscow and Kiev.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8335041.stm

[Captain Hilts]

1. NOT good. nt

[WriteDown]

2. Winter, time to put the squeeze on. nt

[Psephos]

3. A new European holiday tradition: A Christmas Carol.

Ebenezer Putin warns Viktor Cratchit not to put any more coal in the stove. Meanwhile, Tiny EU waits at home, uncertain if he will soon find himself shivering through the holidays like last year.

The Ghost of Christmas Future shakes his chains ominously, and points a bony finger. THIS, he seems to say, is the future.

[izquierdista]

4. If they could pipe all the hot air coming out of Parliament....

They need to get their act together and either (1) build lots of biogas plants and in the process upgrade their sanitation facilities or (2) work on coal gasification since they have plenty of coal. Unfortunately, the most likely course of action will be (3) bitch and moan between factions in Kiev, leaving the citizens to fend for themselves.

[Posteritatis]

5. I am, of course, shocked to hear that Russia is jerking the "near abroad" around some more.. (nt)