Why Europe should support reform of the Ukrainian gas market – or risk a cut-off

Europe faces another catastrophic gas shortage if a gas price dispute between Russia and Ukraine is not resolved, according to this energy report. The EU is attempting to broker an agreement between Russia and Ukraine to avoid a repeat of the 2009 gas crisis which cut Russian gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine. In June 2014 Russia again cut off gas supplies to Ukrainian consumers in a dispute over payment. ECFR energy expert Chi Kong Chyong warns that if the current dispute is not settled soon, Ukraine could be forced to tap into gas supplies destined for Europe to prevent its own citizens from freezing as winter approaches.

ESO: Background information: Europe needs gas and Russia needs cash, so expect an energy-fuelled reconciliation http://www.europeansources.info/record/europe-needs-gas-and-russia-needs-cash-so-expect-an-energy-fuelled-reconciliation/

ESO: Background information: Russia threatens EU states with gas cut-offs http://www.europeansources.info/record/russia-threatens-eu-states-with-gas-cut-offs/

ESO: Background information: Gas stress test: Cooperation is key to cope with supply interruption http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-gas-stress-test-cooperation-is-key-to-cope-with-supply-interruption/

EUObserver, 16.10.14: Russian gas less mighty than it looks, EU says http://euobserver.com/foreign/126111

Euronews, 17.10.14: Russia gas threat sends chill through EU-Asia summit http://www.euronews.com/2014/10/17/russia-gas-threat-sends-chill-through-eu-asia-summit/

EurActiv, 17.10.14: Poroshenko says 'basic parameters' of Russia gas deal agreed http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/poroshenko-says-basic-parameters-russia-gas-deal-agreed-309290

BBC News, 16.10.14: Russia's gas fight with Ukraine http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29521564

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