Gas stand-off raises demand for change / EU gas supplies hit hard by Kiev dispute / Self-interest set to draw in big powers / Fresh salvo launched in war of words

Any remaining hopes that the gas transit confrontation between Russia and Ukraine in December 2008-January 2009 could be treated as a bilateral dispute were blown away on the 6 January 2009 as analysts said the impact of the gas crisis was greater than in the previous most serious confrontation, in 2006. Many European countries including Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia and Serbia were seriously affected.

BBC News, 7.1.09: Russia 'stops sending Europe gas' http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7814743.stm

Deutsche Welle, 7.1.09: Russia Has Stopped All Gas Deliveries to Europe, Says Ukraine http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,3924998,00.html

France24, 6.1.09: Europe shivers as gas row cuts supplies http://www.france24.com/en/20090106-europe-france-hit-gas-supply-gazprom-ukraine-russia-crisis

IHT Europe, 6.1.09: Gazprom slashes gas supplies to Europe http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/01/06/europe/gazprom.php

Radio Netherlands Worldwide, 6.1.09: Europe beginning to feel the pinch of gas row http://www.rnw.nl/english

Spiegel Online International, 6.1.09: Why Ukraine Needs Help in the Gas Row http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,599796,00.html

Russia Today, 7.1.09: Ukraine stealing gas bound for Europe – Swiss analyst group http://rt.com/news/

ESO: Background information: Europe feels heat from gas stand-off http://www.europeansources.info/record/europe-feels-heat-from-gas-stand-off/

Gazprom: Gazprom Ukraine Facts http://www.gazpromukrainefacts.com/

Ukraine: Presidency website: Press Office, 6.1.09: President writes urgent telegrams to European leaders http://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/12519.html

Russia Today, 6.1.09: Europe running out of gas http://rt.com/news/

BBC News, 6.1.09: Russia gas cut 'to affect Europe' http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7812860.stm

Deutsche Welle, 6.1.09: Russia Slashes Gas Deliveries as Europe Feels the Chill http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,3925502,00.html

European Commission: Press Release: IP/09/9: Joint statement by Eurogas and the European Commission http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/9&format=PDF&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Website: Eurogas http://www.eurogas.org/

European Commission: Press Release: IP/09/4: Joint statement by the Czech EU Presidency and the European Commission http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/4&format=PDF&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

EurActiv, 6.1.09: South East Europe shivers as Russia cuts off gas http://www.euractiv.com/energy/south-east-europe-shivers-russia-news-220946

Czech Republic: EU Presidency: Press Release, 6.1.09: Todays talks with Ukrainian and Russian representatives finished http://www.eu2009.cz/en/news-and-documents/news/todays-talks-with-ukrainian-and-russian-representatives-finished-4908/

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