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Page added on February 26, 2015
Putin threatens to cut off gas to Ukraine
Russia could cut off supplies to neighboring Ukraine by the end of the week if it does not get further payments from the country, a spokesman for the gas company Gazprom said Thursday.
Sergei Kupriyanov said in televised remarks that “if no new funds are received from Kiev, then naturally we cannot continue delivering gas to Ukraine.” He did not specify the sum.
Following a bruising dispute over prices and debt that raised fears of supply disruptions in Europe, Russia and Ukraine signed a deal in October requiring Kiev to pay in advance for gas shipments.
Kupriyanov said that discussions with Ukraine’s gas company, Naftogaz, were ongoing, but gave no other details about the talks.
His words echoed an announcement Wednesday by Russian President Vladimir Putin that Ukraine’s latest payment would be good for “another three to four days.” Putin did not give a concrete deadline for the halting of deliveries.
But it is unclear whether Ukraine, which is on the brink of bankruptcy as a protracted fight against Russia-backed separatists in the east continues to erode the country’s economy, is capable of paying.
The International Monetary Fund agreed this month to give Ukraine a new bailout deal worth 15.5 euro ($17.5 billion). The new funding came as a previous aid package to Ukraine, which had already received $4.6 billion last year, ran into trouble. Money from the new package has yet to be disbursed, however, leaving Ukraine under financial pressure.
Kupriyanov said that for now, Russia was willing to “set aside” the issue of whether gas delivered to rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine should be considered a part of Ukraine’s gas bill.
Last week, Russia accused Ukraine of cutting gas supplies to areas in the east controlled by Russia-backed rebels. In response, Russia started pumping gas directly to the east this week, saying that the supplies should be considered a part of the overall volume of its gas exports. Ukraine protests that it can’t manage gas distribution in areas outside its control.
Putin on Wednesday said Ukraine’s decision to halt gas supplies to eastern regions, home to 4.5 million people, “smacks of genocide.”
On Thursday, Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s spokesman, was quoted by Russian news agency Tass as saying that the government and Gazprom are in “constant contact” with European authorities about the Ukraine problem.
47 Comments on "Putin threatens to cut off gas to Ukraine"
Plantagenet on Thu, 26th Feb 2015 8:29 am
Putin is showing a real genius for evil.
turningpoint on Thu, 26th Feb 2015 8:47 am
What makes Putin evil?
I believe we’d behave no differently than Russia, were we in their shoes.
J-Gav on Thu, 26th Feb 2015 9:05 am
Who’s threatening who? Is it Ukraine threatening not to pay? Or Russia threatening not to provide free gas?
I believe turningpoint is correct here.
GregT on Thu, 26th Feb 2015 10:43 am
Perhaps John McCain, Geoffrey Pyatt, and Victoria Nuland would be able to supply the Ukrainians with natural gas.
Plantagenet on Thu, 26th Feb 2015 11:59 am
Putin is evil because he is invading Ukraine. Its no different then Stalin and Hitler invading Poland in 1939.
GregT on Thu, 26th Feb 2015 12:09 pm
The US State department violated the Budapest memorandum that the United States government signed along with the United Kingdom and the Russian Federation in December of 1994.
The memorandum clearly stated that all signatories would refrain from using economic pressure on Ukraine in order to influence its politics. The US State Department not only used economic measures, but instigated the violent coup d’état that overthrew the democratically elected government of Ukraine.
The aftermath was predictable.
Speculawyer on Thu, 26th Feb 2015 12:12 pm
I kinda love it when Putin makes these threats. They help validate Germany’s Energiewende on national security grounds.
European countries would be wise to invest heavily into renewable energy sources so they are not reliant upon the Russian bear that likes to bully nations.
Speculawyer on Thu, 26th Feb 2015 12:16 pm
“The US State Department not only used economic measures, but instigated the violent coup d’état that overthrew the democratically elected government of Ukraine.”
Oh pffft. ‘Instigated violent coup’? Are you saying we supplied soldiers or weapons? No, the USA supports democracy and self-determination. Yeah, we made that view clear. And victoria Nuland gave bread to protesters.
The overthrown leader was massively corrupt. Do you really want to defend corrupt leaders?
Kenz300 on Thu, 26th Feb 2015 12:18 pm
Russia is not a reliable partner…never has……
The sooner Europe and the Ukraine transition to alternative energy sources the more energy secure they will be.
GregT on Thu, 26th Feb 2015 12:20 pm
Once again Spec. Your cluelessness shines brightly.
Speculawyer on Thu, 26th Feb 2015 12:22 pm
Yeah, that’s right . . . I’m sheeple because I don’t wear a tin foil hat.
Apneaman on Thu, 26th Feb 2015 12:22 pm
Speculawyer loves to take the patriotic money shot. Especially when Obama is shooting.
MSN Fanboy on Thu, 26th Feb 2015 12:27 pm
Spec: “the USA supports democracy and self-determination”
oh really?
I mean…. really?
I mean………….. really?
I mean……………………..really?
Must be some sort of Joke. I thought only us English did sarcasm, Spec, that was quite good.
GregT on Thu, 26th Feb 2015 12:31 pm
” I’m sheeple because I don’t wear a tin foil hat.
No Spec. You are a sheep because you are incapable of thinking for yourself.
MSN Fanboy on Thu, 26th Feb 2015 12:32 pm
“Putin is evil because he is invading Ukraine. Its no different then Stalin and Hitler invading Poland in 1939”
oh, wait. Plant takes this boards joker award, sorry spec.
“Putin is evil” haha so foolish little planter.
Rodster on Thu, 26th Feb 2015 12:32 pm
LMAO @ Russia invading Ukraine. Proof? Pictures? Satellite photos? Who needs that shit just makeup a bunch of lies.
Nuland hands out cookies in Ukraine, setups fifth columns and NGO’s worth billions, takes a photo op in Ukraine with a picture of a gas company behind her. Bullshit, it never happened.
Reagan promising Gorbachev and the Russians that NATO would not expand East and corner Russia. Not according to the USSA and how it now operates. Apparently they believe too much in the Wolfowitz Doctrine.
The USSA won’t stop until the ENTIRE world is under it’s control or is a Vassal State to Washington. While the USSA has set it’s sights on Russia, the Middle East has been purposely destabilized for decades by the USSA.
Once the USSA finishes off Russia, China is the last stop. That is unless some dumbass decides to say HELL NO and pushes the big red button.
Kenz300 on Thu, 26th Feb 2015 12:34 pm
Europe is slowly moving to transition its energy use away from fossil fuels……….
European Commission Unveils Draft Energy Strategy
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2015/02/european-commission-unveils-draft-energy-strategy
GregT on Thu, 26th Feb 2015 12:38 pm
Kenz,
We are all ‘slowly moving to transition our energy use away from fossil fuels’.
Have you figured out where YOUR food is going to come from?
Rodster on Thu, 26th Feb 2015 12:59 pm
GregT- “Have you figured out where YOUR food is going to come from?”
Good luck with that when our topsoil has been turned into a Roundup junkie. It’ll take years to get it off it’s Roundup fix before anything grows.
JuanP on Thu, 26th Feb 2015 2:10 pm
The Ukrainians have to prepay for Russian gas deliveries. This is because they have not paid in time in the past and also because they owe Gazprom a couple billion Euros for past deliveries that they refuse to pay.
The gas deliveries they prepaid for at the beginning of the month will be exhausted in two days. It takes two days for Gazprom to clear a payment from Ukraine. Putin is being nice and warning them that if they don’t make a payment today, they may face an interruption of deliveries according to the existing contract terms.
Russia has agreed to not count the gas it has delivered, and continues to deliver to Novorossiya as part of Ukraine’s purchases. Putin warned the Kiev regime that if they refuse to deliver gas to Novorossiya, they are failing their responsibilities as that area’s government. This may lead to de jure recognition of Novorossiya by Moscow.
Then lie, distort, deny, disinform, and propagandize and you end up with this shitty article and some of the comments above.
Northwest Resident on Thu, 26th Feb 2015 2:26 pm
JuanP — When the social fabric is disintegrating and the financial/economic systems that have been in place for so long are on the verge of disintegration, TPTB are likely to resort their one tried and true Ace In The Hole — war, and threat of war.
From my perspective, the sad sorry tragedy playing out in Ukraine serves only one purpose — to keep war and threat of war in the headlines, to give TPTB a “reason” for stricter security measures, to provide cover for troop movements and other actions that would otherwise be difficult to explain.
But then again, I’m slightly jaded, so maybe it is just me..
Plantagenet on Thu, 26th Feb 2015 4:18 pm
TPTB in Russia have already started a war. Evil Putin has invaded poor defenseless Ukraine.
Its naive to think that this isn’t going to make other former Soviet State nervous, including the Baltic States that escaped the USSR and are now part of NATO. Of course they are going to request reassurance from NATO. I wouldn’t be surprised if they requested a permanent NATO military base be established in the Baltics.
Rodster on Thu, 26th Feb 2015 5:28 pm
Thanks for the laugh Plant. You should quit your day job and join Comedy Central.
Makati1 on Thu, 26th Feb 2015 6:31 pm
JuanP/GregT, the voluntarily blind don’t want to see. Perhaps a few of them are actually CIA plants? (Pun intended) That, or total inability to think for themselves, is the only possible explanation for the obviously stupid remarks they make, over and over. Or, it points to the success of the very efficient “Ministry of Truth”. Or the dumbed down school education they received. Or a combination of both.
Davy on Thu, 26th Feb 2015 6:54 pm
Mak, agendist come in all shapes and sizes. You are an Asian trolls who preach a 1000 year Asian Reich rising from the ashes the vanquished US. Mak how is that different from your above comment? Mak, practice what you preach please.
Speculawyer on Thu, 26th Feb 2015 9:01 pm
I guess I need watch Alex Jones and rail on about the Illuminati, PTB, Rothschilds, Jews, and Lizard people to fit in with you smart folks that are so knowledgeable about the way the world works. If only I had your secret knowledge and could crack the code!
Speculawyer on Thu, 26th Feb 2015 9:03 pm
“No Spec. You are a sheep because you are incapable of thinking for yourself.”
If I was incapable of thinking for myself then I would just accept all your paranoid conspiracy theories wouldn’t I? But no. I realize that the world is a chaotic place . . . it is largely rudderless and events are the combined outcome of different people with different agendas. There’s no grand conspiracy theory.
JuanP on Fri, 27th Feb 2015 10:47 am
Update: According to RT, Ukraine’s Naftogaz has just paid Russia’s Gazprom $15 million for what amounts to less than 24 hours of gas deliveries. Gas deliveries from Russia to the Kiev controlled areas of the former Ukraine will stop Monday or Tuesday unless further payments are made by Ukraine’s Naftogaz.
Russia will likely continue providing gas, oil, and electricity to the freed Novorossiyan areas since the Kiev regime has cut them off. They will likely gift and loan some, and also barter Novorossiyan coal for Russian gas, oil, and electricity.
Ukraine continues to break apart and collapse. These trends are irreversible, IMHO.
JuanP on Fri, 27th Feb 2015 10:49 am
My comment is awaiting moderation!
Davy on Fri, 27th Feb 2015 10:58 am
Juan, that happens to me also but usually when I have a really prolific morning of preaching. You have not said much so it is curious why they are moderating you?
J-Gav on Fri, 27th Feb 2015 4:03 pm
JuanP – “Ukraine continues to break apart and collapse,” etc.
Even the very staid and conservative House of Lords in the UK recently admitted that the situation there was the result of “a catastrophic misreading of Russia’s position on the part of the West.” (Read “We can just roll in, they will just roll over. And then we’ll grab their Black Sea base, no questions asked.”)
Who are these fucking geo-political geniuses running NATO’s show? Even the criminal Henry Kissinger has called them out on their stupidity. How long do we have to put up with this crap?
Isn’t there some kind of retirement program available for assholes like Brezhinksy, Cheney etc? Do they really think people are going to just love World War III?
Davy on Fri, 27th Feb 2015 5:56 pm
Putin is the real genius. He has decided to go back to the old fashion way of running a country (link bellow). Damn, I forgot the anti-Americans will accuse the CIA of this:
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-02-27/prominent-russian-politician-and-putin-critic-shot-death-center-moscow
Makati1 on Fri, 27th Feb 2015 5:59 pm
J-Gav, you too see that the problem is the ancient assholes in positions of power in the West. All are over 60, most over 80 and not a bit of concern for the rest of humanity. That is why there is little chance of avoiding WW3. They want a war in their game of domination. They need it to keep their black hearts beating a few more days. Any of the younger ones, like “F–k the EU!” Nuland, etc. are just wannabees used by the old masters to distract attention.
At least that is my take on the situation.
Apneaman on Fri, 27th Feb 2015 6:11 pm
Davy, so you already decided Putin did it huh. The guy was the leader of the opposition, being Putins critic was his fucking. You are so obvious and oblivious at the same time.
Davy on Fri, 27th Feb 2015 6:22 pm
No, I was just baiting someone to reply and see what I could catch.
Personally anyone that was doing what this cat was doing in Russia today is an idiot. Idiots get eliminated at that level in Russia by a laundry list of possibilities. Who friggen know who did it but it shows you Putin’s Russia is a dangerous place. These guys are playing for keeps.
GregT on Fri, 27th Feb 2015 7:15 pm
Nemtsov’s assassination was not in Putin’s best interest. Putin already has over 90% support of the Russian population. Whoever is responsible, for whatever reason, the outcome is guaranteed. More western media propaganda, and further sanctions against the Russian Federation. Exactly what the western PsTB want.
Motive.
Davy on Fri, 27th Feb 2015 7:27 pm
Greg, another Ukrainian false flag from the Ukr Nazi thugs? Maybe, but Putin and his cabal are no stranger to eliminating opposition. This tragic incident will probably be another MH17 riddle.
GregT on Fri, 27th Feb 2015 8:01 pm
“This tragic incident will probably be another MH17 riddle.”
Absolutely agree Davy, but it is very suspect how the media is already running with this and accusing Putin. It is also very convenient, now that it appears that Germany and France have stopped the War in Ukraine, that this murder took place today, somehow justifying further sanctions being imposed on Russia. Just as was the case with flight MH17 and the Ukrainian civil war, sanctions have been imposed without any proof of Putin’s involvement. None of these accusations would stand up in a court of law.
I maintain that we are being manipulated by our corporate masters, that they have a hidden agenda, and that they are acting outside of the law. The wrong side.
Davy on Sat, 28th Feb 2015 9:25 am
Greg, have you seen this report from Bloomberg on the assassination?:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-27/russian-opposition-member-boris-nemtsov-shot-dead-in-moscow
JuanP on Sat, 28th Feb 2015 9:44 am
NWR, I, unfortunately, have to agree with your assessment that humans being what we are, war is very likely to become increasingly common in hard times.
If this is a musical chairs game between countries, as I see it, how much time does the collapse of the 45 million people in Ukraine buy us? A couple of months? I am terrified by what lies ahead, it will be unprecedented in its scale.
JuanP on Sat, 28th Feb 2015 9:51 am
JGav, SOBs never retire because they need and love what they do, so they will do it for free. With people like that only their death brings an end to their evil deeds, and, unfortunately, they tend to get more and more evil with age. I know from personal experience, I have met people like that. I bet you’ve met a couple yourself!
Davy on Sat, 28th Feb 2015 9:53 am
Juan, not that I agree with all of this agnedist’s thoughts but gleaning the facts there is allot of truth to it.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-02-27/10-reasons-washington-has-war-fever
JuanP on Sat, 28th Feb 2015 10:08 am
Davy, I got no idea who killed Nemtsov, but I don’t see how Putin could profit from this. Nemtsov was a very convenient opposition figure for Putin because he was symbolic and not a threat. He was too disliked by the average Russian to have any real future at the national political level. His best opportunities as a politician were in the 90’s and he messed up. He was associated with the 90’s mess by Russians.
The timing of the murder is very suspicious with the March 1st manifestation coming, but to me it doesn’t necessarily indicate or imply any US involvement. Nemtsov had made an awful lot of enemies in his life. There are many, of his relatives, acquaintances, and business partners that could want him killed. The Russian mob had issues with him as well back in the days and he alienated all the muslim radicals in the world with his Charlie Hebdo commments.
Like I said, cui bono? To whose profit? I couldn’t give one answer to that question as there are so many options, but I don’t think Putin or Russia profit in any way from this murder of a prominent Russian opposition figure outside the Kremlin.
Davy on Sat, 28th Feb 2015 10:34 am
While I feel you likely right Juan, I would not put it past the genius of Putin to do a false flag false flag IOW kill him and make it look like a Ukr nazi false flag and at the same time profit from a wounded opposition. The world is so screw up today anything is possible.
JuanP on Sat, 28th Feb 2015 10:49 am
Davy, Thx for the link! That is an interesting article. http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-02-27/10-reasons-washington-has-war-fever
I have read ZH these past months after NR, you, and others here recommmended it. Tyler Durden’s view of things is very close to mine. And, just like him, I hope I’m wrong.
It was thinking along these lines that made up my mind to build my micro farm in Uruguay, instead of Florida, where I could go there on weekends, like I would have preferred. Suddenly, Uruguay being small, distant, and insignificant because it lacks any significant mineral or fossil fuel resources is a great advantage. And, Uruguay has been deteriorating for almost a century, so people there have more realistic expectations. The fact that it is less developed is another advantage, IMHO, just like in the Ozarks, too. There is already a chop wood, collect water, procure food, and get by mentality.
I am afraid that TPTB and the US government are out of their debt and simply doing the best they can. The world systems have humongous amounts of inertia and are out of our control. This thing has become its own driving force, and ALL of us, without exception, are nothing more than cogs in the machine.
JuanP on Sat, 28th Feb 2015 10:53 am
I meant to say TPTB and US government are out of their DEPTH, though slipping like that and using the word debt instead sounds like my subconscious wishing to contribute to the comment, too. 😉
Davy on Sat, 28th Feb 2015 11:44 am
Juan, you made a wise move. South FLA has little future. I am here to preach on this:
Location & relocation.!
Juan took the plung. There are other here that should consider leaving a place wth no future.