Russia continues to deny it is arming rebels in the East of Ukraine. Instead, Putin has called on the Ukrainian government to stop its military operations. Yet Kiev is simply attempting to regain control of its territory while also trying to establish some dialogue with Moscow to end the crisis.
In this situation, doing nothing is not an option for Europe or America. The longer European governments hesitate, the more Ukraine is threatened by civil war. Its citizens will flee the conflict, and the growing humanitarian crisis in the East of the country will increase.
There may also be spillover into other parts of Eastern Europe. Just consider the political instability in Moldova and Russia’s meddling in Transnistria, not to speak of the lingering conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Read the entire article here.
Russian Energy Minister claims that Ukraine was "not constructive" in gas talks from the very start, rejected compromise
— Steve Rosenberg (@BBCSteveR) June 16, 2014
OSCE warns Donetsk water supply damaged http://t.co/wrlqE195l8
— Daniel Sandford (@BBCDanielS) June 16, 2014
Russia has just turned off Ukraine's gas supply. Which other countries rely on Russian gas? http://t.co/zTLO6OlREx pic.twitter.com/LHHsCLObu1
— The Economist (@TheEconomist) June 16, 2014
Alleged conversation between Lukashenka & Yanukovych's son, discussing Yanuk. coming to Belarus. http://t.co/X6i1Q4z5Be via @_shamanska
— Glenn Kates (@gkates) June 16, 2014
In a counter move, Ukraine sues Russia for $6 bn in the recent gas dispute - 'Naftogaz' stmt http://t.co/c8oEj0mFht
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) June 16, 2014
As Gazprom & Naftogaz sue each other, #Ukraine says it can last until December without Russian gas, Interfax Ukraine reports
— Alec Luhn (@ASLuhn) June 16, 2014
On the bright side, its the beginning of summer. There are worse times to have a gas war.
— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) June 16, 2014
#Ukraine Defense Ministry reports 50 militants killed in #Kramatorsk and #Druzhkivka, no losses in special forces http://t.co/IBr09afsyH
— Kyiv Post (@KyivPost) June 16, 2014
Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov said that since Ukraine had paid nothing toward its overdue gas bill by an 9 a.m. (Kyiv time) deadline, Moscow had no legal imperative to supply gas to Kyiv.
Kupriyanov said Ukraine now has an obligation to ensure that gas intended for European customers flows unimpeded.
Gazprom also said it has filed a lawsuit against Ukraine in a Stockholm arbitration court to recover $4.5 billion in debt.
EU-brokered talks in Kyiv yesterday failed to reach an agreement on almost $2 billion in gas debt.
The European Commission said in a statement today that, during the talks in Kyiv, Ukraine was ready to accept a compromise of paying $1 billion now and more later, but Russia was not.
EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger said he was aiming to arrange further talks later this month and urged Moscow to reconsider a compromise offer, perhaps with small adjustments.