I would no sooner believe in some obscure rumanian news outlet than I would fox news . They have not finished the EU summit yet to decide if any sanctions are to be made against Russia , so I'd hardly think Russia would cut the gas supply if the EU might come out and say further dialogue is needed .

The EU deserves it, Russia has never done anything to us. Russia should send it's gas elsewhere and show the EU what it is like to live in the stone age. They asked for it and I would do the same.

Yes, because they're swimming in money they don't need.
Please, just another Putin tantrum.
Me thinks he like attention.

[edit on 9/1/2008 by schrodingers dog]

Russia was being shafted for billions this time around so they had to cut of the pipeline to stop the stealing of gas, they increased flow through other pipelines so it was not a powerplay to kick europeans. They just wanted their money. What they gained? Not sure, did they get payed?

Clearly there are some forces at work trying to isolate EU from Russia and vice versa.

Georgia, Ukraine, NATO/USA missile defense in Poland and the Czech Republic, Kosovo... we all know who's pulling the strings here, I hope?

do you think that Ucraine was "paid" to be the iron courtain between Russia and Europe? As I understood, Ucraine actually paid their debds towards Russia, however the issue was that Russia wanted 600 million extra as "interest rate" and penalties for Ucraine not paying on time.

If Ucraine was somehow influenced to stop the gas supply towards europe, then Russia lost this game - Russia and Europe both are loosers at this point. Winers? well, maybe this is where we should look : who benefits?

Ok i have seen to many ignorant posts here to ignore this. Let me briefly explain whats the situation. As we all know Russia is the main supplier of gas in Europe, now for a long time because Ukraine was/is a friend to Russia we were selling them gas for 180$ per what ever they measure i am not sure, while europe was paying and still pays 450$ per same amount. Now the Ukrainian goverment due to its political situation, corruption and many many other reason on top of this the Crisis nowdays, was unable to pay Russia the full amount of what was signed in the contract between two countries and had a dept at the end of the year of $2.2 billion to Gazpron(I hope we all agree that the amount is extremly big to ignore under any friendship). So now, for the new contract that's to be signed in 2009 as it states in the contract the consumer country needs to pay off the whole amount of the previous contract/year for the new one to the affect. Ukraine was unable to keep up with the already discounted prices it was getting so from the $1.5 billion on top of this another $600 millions was penalties due to late payments or no payments at all. So rightfully Gazprom decided to stop its supplying gas to Ukraine but only keep the transit to Europe through Ukraine which is the main gas pipe. After that Ukraine send a letter to Gazprom threatening it to confiscate any gas passing trough its borders(Ukraine has also signed a contract with Europe regarding the transit that no matter what they have no right to interfere under any circumstances to the transit pipes) So after a week passed of Russia still supplying gas to Europe via Ukraine .Europe has noticed that the numbers they supposed to receive don't match same was recorded in Gazprom in Russia so basically Ukraine has violated the agreement and was "stealing the gas that Europe paid for. So Russia decided to reduce the transit via Ukraine until the situation is resolved as big amounts of gas was not exiting Ukrainian borders. But Ukraine stop the transit completly. Although Ukraine paid the $1.5 billion , there are still to be paid $600 million which Ukraine ignores + the stolen gas. Currently Russia and Germany are discussing the issue and are thinking on building a new pipeline system which conects Russia -Germany directly. That just the brief situation , there more like for example many Europian countries that suffered from Ukraine current policies have gone to Europe court and filed an official complaint about Ukraine.
But of course you dont have to believe me if you don't want as you would think i am representing the Russian point of view . But i dare you to go and read some decent western media /newspaper or what ever to really see the truth for your self and not some propaganda bs about the BIG BAD RUSSIAN BEAR THAT WANTS TO TAKE ALL OF EUROPE. Sorry but that Slogan is getting old now Soviet day have passed 20 years ago . Its time for people to move on .

Gas in not going to flow forever , and for Europe to go gas free it will take a lot of years until then Europe still needs the gas desperately. What i am defending is how they want to portrait the Russia again as the reason for their problems. I agree with your point of view regarding alternatives means of Energy as it will help humanity to advance . I too believe someone is making money out of this whole dispute after all the world for them i a big chess game , we are just the pawns

[edit on 13-1-2009 by Russian Boy]

[edit on 13-1-2009 by Russian Boy]