Europe’s gas supply could be turned off within days after Russia raised the stakes in the Ukraine conflict.
Days after Britain announced it was sending 75 troops to Ukraine on a training mission President Putin demanded immediate advance payments to keep the gas taps on.
Britain gets around 15% of its gas from Russia, while continental Europe relies on Moscow for about 30% of its supplies.
Any dispute over gas supplies could plunge millions of homes into darkness in the middle of winter.
Putin’s ultimatum came on the day that the EU announced ambitious plans for an “energy union” to end Russia’s energy stranglehold over the continent.
Officials admitted, however, that it would take many years and an investment of EUR 1 trillion in infrastructure to achieve energy security.
Mr Putin said Ukraine had paid only enough cash “for three or four days’ gas supplies”.
“Unless there is a prepayment, Gazprom [the Kremlin’s energy giant] . . . will terminate the supply. Of course this may create a threat to transit to Europe, to our European partners,” he said.
He also criticised Kiev for cutting off gas to its eastern regions under the control of pro-Russian separatists.
“Imagine these people will be left without gas in winter. Not only that there is famine . . . It smells of genocide,” said Putin.
Credit to Mirror
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