Ukraine: Battling over an economic midget [Energy and the Ukrainian crisis]

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details 02.04.14
Publication Date 02/04/2014
Content Type

As the situation on the ground in Crimea slowly disappeared from the news in April 2014, media attention turned to the effects of the crisis in the Ukrainian economy, as both Russia and the West tried to influence the country to adopt different economic paradigms.

The energy sector was the first and most visible face of this issue. Ukraine did not pay off any of its debt to Russian gas supplier Gazprom despite a deadline for the nation to start reducing its debt by midnight on the 7 April 2014.

Gazprom’s CEO Alexei Miller said that gas reverse flows from EU countries to Ukraine were illegal, defying a Brussels plan to help the country’s pro-European government fight against Russia’s strategy to wreck its economy by increasing gas prices.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico called for talks with Ukraine, Russia and the European Commission to ensure his country gets paid and that it can reverse gas flows to Kyiv without violating existing contracts, while Hungary said it could do so at once. Bratislava and Kiev agreed a deal on the 27 April 2014 that would allow gas from Central Europe to reach Ukraine via Slovakia.

EUObserver reported a letter sent on the 10 April 2014 by Russian President Putin to governments of countries in Europe that received supplies of gas through Ukraine that threatened to cut off gas supplies to Ukraine unless it started repaying a huge debt and unless the EU agreed to joint talks on the economic future of Ukraine.

Reacting to Mr. Putin's letter, the United States accused Russia of using its energy supplies "as a tool of coercion" to try to control Ukraine.

BBC News reported that crude oil prices hadrisen amid continuing tensions in Ukraine and concerns about possible disruptions to Russian gas supplies.

Germany's RWE began deliveries of natural gas to Ukraine on the 15 April 2014, marking an initial step in EU efforts to boost supplies to Kiev.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://dw.de/p/1BaQU
Related Links
ESO: Key Source: Euromaidan - Protests in Ukraine 2013 - 2015 - Key source http://www.europeansources.info/record/euromaidan-protests-in-ukraine-2013-2015/
ESO: Background information: Russia’s Medvedev angers Ukraine with Crimea visit / Putin orders some troops to pull back from Ukraine border http://www.europeansources.info/record/russias-medvedev-angers-ukraine-with-crimea-visit-putin-orders-some-troops-to-pull-back-from-ukraine-border/
ESO: Background information: Russia’s sluggish economy is not a function of the Ukraine crisis or sanctions, but reflects long term economic trends http://www.europeansources.info/record/russias-sluggish-economy-is-not-a-function-of-the-ukraine-crisis-or-sanctions-but-reflects-long-term-economic-trends/
ESO: Background information: Commission embarks on ‘unprecedented’ venture with Ukraine http://www.europeansources.info/record/commission-embarks-on-unprecedented-venture-with-ukraine/
Deutsche Welle, 02.04.14: Russia shelves economics for power play http://dw.de/p/1BaO8
ESO: Background information: Statement by IMF Mission to Ukraine http://www.europeansources.info/record/statement-by-imf-mission-to-ukraine/
EurActiv, 07.04.14: Russia tells West reverse gas flows are ‘illegal’ http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/russia-tells-west-reverse-gas-flows-are-illegal-301380
BBC News, 08.04.14: Ukraine misses Gazprom's deadline to pay gas debt http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26930998
EurActiv, 09.04.14: Ukrainian minister: ‘Gas can stop flowing at any moment’ http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/ukrainian-minister-gas-can-stop-flowing-any-moment-301431
ESO: Background information: Russia leverages its gas, cash supremacy in Ukraine http://www.europeansources.info/record/russia-leverages-its-gas-cash-supremacy-in-ukraine/
EUObserver, 10.04.14: Putin letter threatens gas-cut off to Ukraine, EU countries http://euobserver.com/economic/123820
BBC News, 10.04.14: Putin warns Europe of gas shortages over Ukraine debts http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26975204
Euronews, 11.04.14: Putin plays gas card in Ukraine and threatens to cut off supplies http://www.euronews.com/2014/04/11/putin-plays-gas-card-in-ukraine-and-threatens-to-cut-off-supplies/
CEPS: Blog: Crisis in Ukraine, 10.04.14: What the Quad meeting on Ukraine on should agree http://www.ceps.be/content/what-quad-meeting-ukraine-should-agree
Polskie Radio, 11.04.14: Thenews.pl :: News from Poland LISTEN LIVE Szukaj w serwisie Home News Radio Most Popular Archive About Us Contact Us Russia threatens to cut off gas supply to Europe http://www.thenews.pl/1/12/Artykul/167938,Russia-threatens-to-cut-off-gas-supply-to-Europe
EurActiv, 11.04.14: Slovakia wants guarantees before reversing gas to Ukraine http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/slovakia-wants-guarantees-reversing-gas-ukraine-301507
EurActiv, 11.04.14: Russia wants seat in a ‘Troika’ to manage Ukraine http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/russia-wants-seat-troika-manage-ukraine-301504
BBC News, 11.04.14: US: Russia uses energy supplies 'to control Ukraine' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26982173
Deutsche Welle, 10.04.14: Russia tells EU leaders Ukraine debt may affect gas transit http://dw.de/p/1Bfrf
BBC News, 14.04.14: Oil prices rise on continuing tension in Ukraine http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-27020017
EurActiv, 16.04.14: Germany's RWE begins gas deliveries to Ukraine http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/germanys-rwe-begins-gas-deliveries-ukraine-301586
EurActiv, 24.04.14: Russia bills Ukraine for gas it didn’t use http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/russia-bills-ukraine-gas-it-didnt-use-301730
BBC News, 27.04.14: Slovakia and Ukraine agree a gas supply deal http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-27177763
European Commission: RAPID: Press Release, IP/14/487: Commission welcomes breakthrough leading to gas flows from Slovakia to Ukraine http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-487_en.pdf
The New York Times, 28.04.14: Sanctions Over Ukraine Cause Headaches in the Energy Sector http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/29/business/international/sanctions-over-ukraine-cause-headaches-in-the-energy-sector.html
EurActiv, 29.04.14: Ukraine expected to join gas crisis talks http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/ukraine-expected-join-gas-crisis-talks-301818
EurActiv, 08.05.14: Ukrainian cities unite to send out energy efficiency SOS http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/ukrainian-cities-unite-send-out-energy-efficiency-sos-301989
EurActiv, 09.05.14: US advises Ukraine ahead of winter gas subsidy cuts http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/us-advises-ukraine-ahead-winter-gas-subsidy-cuts-302025

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