Russia raises gas prices for Ukraine by 80 percent

Reuters ^ | April 3, 2014 | By Svetlana Burmistrova and Natalia Zinets

[Jim Robinson]

* White House criticises Gazprom's move

MOSCOW/KIEV, April 3 (Reuters) - Russia raised the gas price for Ukraine on Thursday for the second time this week, almost doubling it in three days and piling pressure on a neighbour on the brink of bankruptcy in the crisis over Crimea.

The increase, announced in Moscow by Russian natural gas producer Gazprom, means Ukraine will pay 80 percent more for its gas than before the initial increase on Monday.

[kenmcg]

Open up the channels to freedom fighters in the Ukraine, money, weapons, etc. let the guerilla wars begin.

[MarMema]

I think before the super low price was to pay for renting the base in Crimea. But Putin is no stranger to bullying his customers. Just ask Lithuania and a few others.

[MarMema]

Good point...

But Suspicions were raised by various high-profile persons as to whether the fire was an accident, or industrial sabotage on the part of the Russian energy companies in revenge for not being offered to buy the company.[14] Notably, perhaps, the vice-leader of the Russian Duma, Konstantin Kosachev had said that "instability will continue to plague the refinery until the Lithuanians finally realize which partners one should choose" only a few hours before the start of the blaze.

[MarMema]

More history....such classic work by Putin really.

Mr. Saakashvili said that the flow of gas had ceased as Russia had been trying to pressure Georgia into selling Russia the Georgian gas pipeline network, and that officials at several levels of the Russian government had been issuing veiled threats in recent weeks.

So I would say watch and soon there will be a fire or explosion that will cut Ukraine off. Putin only wishes it were a more cold time of year I am sure.

[EQAndyBuzz]

“Can you blame the Russians. They we are stupid enough to but it for the Ukrainians. This why Obama is a Manchurian plant. He takes down the missile shield, unilaterally reduces our nukes, will prolly transfer billions of dollars to Russia, allow Putin to take Eastern Europe back. Then before leaving office after he guts our military, purges or leaders, and replaces our fighters with degenerates he lets Putin wipe us out and rids the world of the evil capitalist United States. “

And then he will be put in charge of the UN. Bank on it.

[goldstategop]

All those discounts have been canceled... especially in lieu of the termination of the Black Fleet Lease agreement under which they were previously extended.

Its a potent reminder Moscow can wield pressure other than through military force upon Ukraine. Since Kiev did not want to join the Customs Union, it will now pay market price for natural gas from Russia.

[Just mythoughts]

Moscow does indeed have a history of wielding potent pressure over the Ukraine. Course the world really does not want to discuss how many dead bodies have occurred out of the bowels of Moscow’s potent powers. But, they the Moscow mindset, will get all they have coming to them.

[varmintman]

[Paul R.]

Well, per at least one Ukrainian:

“We can’t turn water off because Crimean farmers are Ukrainians and Tatars. That’s explain why we still give them electric power and gas because if by cutting it off we will turn Crimea into desert then Putin’s final aim would be achieved. He wants to depopulate Crimea which will only be good for military base.”

http://www.angelfire.com/extreme4/kiddofspeed/maydan/updateapril4.html

[FBD]

2009 article:
Kremlin uses gas as a weapon
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jan/09/opinion/ed-gazprom9

“Gazprom, Russia’s state gas monopoly, is as much a policy arm of the Kremlin as it is a company. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is its former chairman. It owns a big Russian media company and operates it as a government propaganda arm. It is the largest extractor of natural gas in the world and accounts for a quarter of Russia’s budget. The government controls a majority of its board, and though Gazprom’s management decision-making structure is murky, most analysts believe the man who really calls the shots is Russian Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin, who once argued in a scholarly paper that Russia’s energy resources were the key to promoting its national interests.”

[DesertRhino]

The Soviets were SOBs I Ukraine especially in the 1930s. And can you tell us how Europeans behaved in Ukraine a decade later?

For bonus points, tell us how the EU, McCain, Obama, Hillary, Ashton, and EU bankers are suddenly for freedom when everywhere else, they have been on the wrong side?