Gas crisis discussed in Moscow, Ukraine accused of ‘aggravating’ situation

The gas crisis has been discussed today, Dec.10, by Mirek Topolanek, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic (current holder of EU’s rotating presidency), and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, at the latter’s residence in Novo Ogaryovo. According to the on-line version of the Ukrainian publication Kyiv Post, the Russian premier accused Ukraine of aggravating the crisis, citing a recent decision by the Kiev Economic Court to ban gas transit on Ukrainian soil. “I hope you will manage to persuade our Ukrainian partners of the need to set up a mechanism to monitor the flow of gas,” Putin told Topolanek, who offered to mediate the conflict that has left large areas in Europe shivering and in the dark. Meanwhile, according to the Associated Press, EU monitors started work in Kiev in an effort to offer an independent assessment to the flow of Russian gas transiting Ukraine. But until Ukraine and Russia manage to sign a final agreement to settle the situation, Ukrainian President Viktor Yuschenko promised that Ukraine would deliver 2 million m3 of natural gas to Bulgaria and Moldova from its own reserves, starting today, Dec.10. Tens of thousands of homes have been left without heating, businesses have been closed down and schools have been suspended across central Europe because of the cut-off amid bitterly cold winter weather.