‘Nyet’ to West’s Ukraine appeal
Putin denies he wants a new Cold War as Russia holds threat of energy crisis over Europe’s head
RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin this weekend mocked diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine crisis as Russia threatened to disrupt European gas supplies by cutting off sales to Kiev over its unpaid debts.
The Russian president said through his official spokesman that, despite deep disagreements with the West, he did not want a confrontation over Ukraine to spiral into a “new Cold War”.
Nevertheless, Dmitry Peskov ridiculed Western demands for direct talks between the Kremlin and the new Kiev government, claiming that the loss of credibility involved “puts a smile on our face”.
The remarks were broadcast during the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, where the Ukrainian athlete carrying her national flag was given a loud cheer.
Earlier, Gazprom, Russia’s state-owned energy giant, said it would start to reduce deliveries to Kiev, a move that would disrupt supplies to Europe. Gazprom said Ukraine had failed to make payments on its $1.89-billion (about R20.4-billion) debts.
Ukraine is one of the main transit routes for the continent’s gas, and the suspension of Gazprom exports in freezing temperatures in 2006 and 2009 endangered national grids.
“We can’t supply gas for free,” said Alexey Miller, head of Gazprom. “Either Ukraine settles its debt . . . or the risk arises of a return to the situation at the start of 2009.”
Energy experts said Russia had the power to cause problems in markets across Europe, even though peak winter demand was over. “Europe still relies heavily — in some cases 100% — on Russian gas,” said Lord Howell, a former British energy secretary.
The White House brushed off the Russian announcement as less of a blow for EU economies than it would have been in previous years. Josh Earnest, White House spokesman, said stocks in Europe were above normal after a mild winter. Structural changes also meant that less of Europe’s gas went through Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Ministry officials issued the tit-for-tat
Moscow displayed no signs of pulling back in Crimea
warnings a day after an EU summit suspended talks on visa-free access for Russians to Europe and threatened sanctions if Moscow did not change course.
“Russia will not accept the language of sanctions and threats,” a Foreign Ministry statement said.
Two potential Ukrainian presidential contenders demanded a single, tough Western stance against Russia. Vitali Klitschko, a former boxer, and Petro Poroshenko, a businessman, both of whom are seen as likely candidates in presidential elections in May, used a visit to Paris to shore up European resolve.
Moscow displayed no signs of pulling back in the flashpoint region of Crimea, despite the summit outcome and a subsequent telephone conversation between Putin and US President Barack Obama.
Russia’s parliament made preparations to endorse the March 16 referendum in Crimea on joining the Russian Federation. Valentina Matviyenko, speaker of Russia’s upper house of parliament, said the outcome would be accepted “unquestionably”. Officials in Kiev retorted that no country in the “civilised world” would recognise a vote for merging with Russia.
Russia also scuttled a third ship in the Crimean harbour of Donuzlav to tighten its blockade on the doggedly loyal Ukrainian navy vessels trapped behind Russian lines. — © The Daily Telegraph, London