Ukraine crisis threatens supply

摘要

Russian president Vladimir Putin has warned European leaders that the country’s dispute with Ukraine could lead to disruptions in the transit of Russian gas to Europe. Russian state-controlled Gazprom is“compelled”to demand that Ukrainian state-owned Naftogaz prepay for gas, after the latter ran up$2.24bn in debts for earlier supplies, Putin said in a letter sent on 10 April.“In the event of further violation of the conditions of payment,Gazprom will com-pletely or partially cease gas deliveries,”he warned,adding that Russia realises this“increases the risk of the siphoning off of natural gas passing through Ukraine’s territory”.