How Much Gas From Russia Do The Member States Of The Eu Use? And If The Eu...

[sandyRoe]

...criticised the Russian behaviour in the Ukraine could the flow be turned off?

[emmie]

not sure, but he seems to have the upper hand

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-02/russia-gas-threat-shows-putin-using-pipelines-to-press-ukraine.html

[emmie]

Ukraine provides a key pipeline for transporting Russian gas into Europe, but a bitter dispute over the country’s ties has led Russia to issue several warnings that Ukraine may lose a discount to the gas price it now pays, due to its outstanding debt. “It seems that with such gas payments and fulfilment of its obligations Ukraine may not keep its current gas discount. The gas discount agreement assumed full and timely payment,” a spokesman from Russia’s state-owned gas company Gazprom said.

A price rise would be devastating for heavily indebted Ukraine, and it is feared that this could interrupt exports to Europe, which gets a third of its gas from Russia.

[emmie]

a third, better get my gas card filled up

[Old_Jim]

The Ukraine relies almost exclusively on Russian gas for its energy needs. That makes it vulnerable to Russian blackmail. Many eastern states also import gas from Russia although they are not wholly reliable on it. If Russia turned off the taps, the price of North Sea and French gas would rise, but it would have a drastic effect on Russia's foreign exchange.

The Russian enclave of Kaliningrad is sandwiched between two EU members who are also members of Nato. The west has the option of closing the land borders so that the only access is by sea.

[Old_Geezer]

No country should be content to rely on another staying friendly for it's basic needs. Even at the expense of inconvenience or cost each should try to be self sufficient. Else one needs good diplomats and a contentment to be driven by pragmatic necessities. It's one thing hoping interdependence will prevent hostility, but quite another that you feel unable to stand up for what you believe is right because you stand to lose more than you can afford to.