Moscow seeks to wield petro-power as political tool

Russia takes over the rotating presidency of the Group of Eight nations on 1 January 2006 and is expected to use this role to promote itself as a reliable supplier of energy to the world's biggest economies. Separately, Russia has threatened to reduce gas supplies to western Europe, with effect from 1 January 2006, unless the Ukrainian Government pays higher prices for gas it takes from the pipeline, which crosses Ukraine.