RUSSIA/UKRAINE: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin blames Ukraine for gas crisis, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko moots talks with counterpart

Record ID: 739524

  • Title: RUSSIA/UKRAINE: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin blames Ukraine for gas crisis, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko moots talks with counterpart
  • Date: 15th January 2009
  • Summary: PROTESTERS GATHERING OUTSIDE THE RUSSIAN EMBASSY POSTERS READING: "You can blackmail us but you can't put Ukraine on its knees". PUTIN'S PORTRAIT WITH HITLER'S HAIRSTYLE PORTRAIT OF PUTIN WITH INSCRIPTION READING: "Liars' tongues should be cut out!" PROTESTER PROTESTER IVAN KRULKO SHOUTING THROUGH LOUDSPEAKER PROTESTER TEARING PAPER TONGUE FROM PORTRAIT (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) PROTESTER IVAN KRULKO, SHOUTING THROUGH LOUDSPEAKER, SAYING: "Ukraine will get gas and Europe will get gas. And Russia be will remembered throughout Europe as a liar." UKRAINIAN FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) PROTESTER IVAN KRULKO SAYING: "Gazprom has been long using gas as a weapon against the whole world and is trying to show the world its remaining muscle, as they don't have any other levers than gas in the talks with Ukraine and Europe." CAMERA CREWS FILMING PROTESTER CARRYING PLASTIC PIPELINE TO EMBASSY AND SAYING INTO EMBASSY INTERCOM: "Nobody wants this pipeline but we'll try to slide it in anyway! Good day! I have a gas pipe here, which I would like to present as a gift to you. Would you please come out and take it?"
  • Embargoed: 30th January 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations,Energy
  • Reuters ID: LVAD9G35PK0EHR6HFWJ1NJBH2N1W
  • Story Text: Bulgarian, Slovakian and Moldovan PMs meet Russian counterpart Putin to discuss the Ukraine-Russia gas row. Ukrainian Prime minister says talks with Russia should be held at government level, while protesters rally outside the Russian embassy in Kiev accusing Russia of plans to take over the Ukrainian national gas pipeline system.
    Russia and Ukraine wrangled over gas supplies again on Wednesday (January 14), and two European Union states -- cut off by the row for a freezing week -- launched missions to plead for Russian gas flow to be restored.
    Russia accused Ukraine of deliberately cutting gas to Europe, but Kiev said Russia had so far provided so little gas there was not enough pressure in the pipelines to pump it onwards.
    Each side tried to persuade their customers to the West that the other was to blame for the crisis.

    "We are hearing from our Ukrainian friends they have problems with transit. But it is not our problem. It is the problem of the transit country and they must solve it," Russian Prime Minister Putin told the prime ministers of Slovakia, Bulgaria and Moldova, all badly hit by the cut in gas supplies, at his residence outside Moscow.

    "The biggest risk for both Russia and Ukraine is the issue of trust. The dispute has been running for a few years but it should not turn third countries into hostages," Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev told Putin during the meeting.
    Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday the state-controlled gas monopoly Gazprom had lost $1.1 billion from the fall in exports to Europe caused by the dispute.

    "We need, today, to set legal specialists to work on behalf of Gazprom to try and recover some of the losses. We can't allow our nation and such an important firm to lose such a lot of money, the time for presents is over," Medvedev said in an interview on state television.
    Gazprom is demanding Kiev hand over $614 million for unpaid gas bills and pay $450 per 1,000 cubic metres of gas in 2009. That is similar to rates paid by EU customers but a big rise on last year's price of $179.5.
    Analysts in Kiev say Ukraine, saddled with debt and hard hit by the global slowdown, cannot afford that price.
    Meanwhile Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko told a news conference that talks with Russia should be conducted at government level rather than between the two countries' gas companies.
    Tymonshenko reiterated Kiev's position on gas transit to Europe.
    "Ukraine will get gas and Europe will get gas. And Russia be will remembered throughout Europe as a liar," she said.
    She called for the issue to be dealt with at prime ministerial level.
    "Talks must continue and Ukraine will pursue talks with Russia in a constructive fashion. Today, our government's protocol department has spoken to Prime Minister Putin's protocol department to organise a telephone conversation. We are waiting for a reply. I expect a conversation will take place. And on the basis of this conversation, we will set up a meeting to establish all details of how to supply Ukraine with gas," added Tymoshenko.
    In the Ukrainian Capital on Wednesday, 50 protesters gathered outside the Russian embassy, accusing Russia of being responsible for the gas crisis.

    "Ukraine will get gas and Europe will get gas. And Russia be will remembered throughout Europe as a liar," said protester Ivan Krilko.

    "Gazprom has been long using gas as a weapon against the whole world and is trying to show the world its remaining muscle, as they don't have any other levers than gas in the talks with Ukraine and Europe," he added, as he shouted through his loud speaker.
    The protesters were from the Popular Youth Movement which supports Ukrainian President Victor Yushenko.
    Russia began pumping gas meant for Europe via Ukraine on Tuesday (January 13), but the EU said little or none was flowing yet to countries downstream suffering urgent energy shortages.
    Russia accused Ukraine of deliberately cutting gas to Europe, but Kiev said Russia had so far provided so little gas there was not enough pressure in the pipelines to pump it on.
    Each side tried to persuade their customers to the West that the other was to blame for the crisis.
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