Anger across Europe

摘要

In addition, Europe is getting increasingly angry with the behaviour of the two countries and the dispute has made it even more urgent for the Europeans to diversify their energy supply. Russia is the world's biggest natural gas producer and provides about one-quarter of the gas used in the European Union, or about 40% of the gas the bloc imports. About 80% of those imports pass though Ukraine. Russia cut supplies for Ukraine's domestic market on 1 January due to the payment's dispute, and then on 7 January shut off gas transiting through the former Soviet state to Europe at a time when temperatures have plunged well below freezing, boosting demand for gas to heat homes and businesses. Moscow accused Ukraine of stealing gas intended for Europe, a charge Ukraine has denied and wants the Europeans to monitor the gas flows.