Ukraine blames Russia for gas shortages in Europe

Source: Agencies  |   2009-1-7  |     ONLINE EDITION

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UKRAINE says Russia has cut off all gas supplies to Europe in an escalating dispute with its neighbor.

Valentyn Zemlyansky, spokesman for the Ukraine state gas company Naftogaz, said Russia's gas giant Gazprom completely stopped sending gas to European consumers at 7:44 am local time.

The Russia-Ukraine natural gas dispute has hit Europe with the force of a winter storm, cutting or limiting supplies to at least a dozen nations. Tens of thousands of people were left without heat and governments scrambled to find alternate energy sources.

Russia says it has limited supplies to Europe because Ukraine was stealing its gas. Ukraine blames Russia for the shortfalls. The cut-off began after the two neighbors failed to agree on prices for this year.


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