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Ukraine leader accuses Russia of 'blackmail' over crisis
2009-01-13
KIEV (AFP) - Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko on Tuesday accused Russia of "blackmail" over a cut in gas supplies across Ukrainian territory that has caused widespread shortages in Europe. "Each person living in Ukraine should understand that what has happened between January 1 and now is not the blackmail of our state, it is the blackmail of each of you," Yushchenko said in a televised press conference. While Moscow accused Kiev of blocking the transit of gas to Europe despite an EU deal to resolve the crisis, Yushchenko said Russia was aiming to undermine Ukraine's independence. "This attack against Ukraine has the goal of provoking a revolt in the eastern regions," where heavy industry relies heavily on Russian gas supplies, he said. "This is one of the methods used in the fight against our independence and sovereignty," he said. Ukraine's Naftogaz energy company said it was not technically capable of receiving the Russian gas as the Ukrainian network was now occupied with supplying domestic clients. The head of Naftogaz, Oleg Dubina, said Ukraine would have had to cut off internal gas supplies to four regions in eastern Ukraine in order to allow the export of Russian gas. Yushchenko suggested Russia's long-term goal was to seize control of transit pipelines to Europe through Ukraine. "All of these events show (Russia's) intention to change the ownership of the Ukrainian pipeline system," Yushchenko said. Moscow and Kiev have traded accusations over the crisis, which has left hundreds of thousands of people across Europe without gas for heating. Russia on Tuesday announced it was restarting supplies through Ukraine to the EU on a test basis but the resumption immediately hit problems with Moscow accusing Kiev of blocking supplies again.
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 Russia, Ukraine to sign gas deal, end standoff (2009-01-19) | | New Russia, Ukraine gas accord leaves Europe dubious (2009-01-18) | | Russia, Ukraine clinch deal to resume Europe gas supplies (2009-01-17) | | Russia, EU, Ukraine set for gas talks (2009-01-16) | | Russian gas cutoff energizes nuclear comeback (2009-01-16) | | Last chance for Moscow, Kiev to show they are serious: EU (2009-01-16) | | Russia-Ukraine gas war deadlock (2009-01-15) | | Crisis deepens as Russia-Ukraine gas deal unravels (2009-01-14) | | Russia and Ukraine may meet over gas dispute (2009-01-14) |  Ukraine leader accuses Russia of 'blackmail' over crisis (2009-01-13) | | Russia, Ukraine trade blame as Europe sees no gas (2009-01-13) | | Russia to restart gas pumps to Europe on Tuesday (2009-01-12) | | Russia set to resume European gas supplies after deal (2009-01-11) | | EU monitors deploy to end Russian gas deadlock (2009-01-11) | | Russia and EU sign deal on gas transit via Ukraine (2009-01-10) | | Putin warns Europe gas crisis "worsening" (2009-01-10) | | Gazprom may resume gas shipments to Europe today (2009-01-09) | | EU leader to meet Putin amid efforts to resolve gas dispute (2009-01-09) | | Russia to pump gas to Europe if monitors are there (2009-01-08) | | Russia, Ukraine in EU talks as gas crisis engulfs Europe (2009-01-08) | | Thaw in the air as Russia-Ukraine gas crisis talks begin in Brussels (2009-01-08) | | Halt in Russian gas supplies to Europe deepens crisis (2009-01-07) | | EU: Russia, Ukraine accept monitors in gas dispute (2009-01-07) | | Gas shortages spread as Russian-Ukraine row flares (2009-01-06) | | Natural gas shortages slam many European nations (2009-01-06) |
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