G8 tells Russia: Break gas monopoly

Finance ministers from the world’s richest countries issued a public rebuke to Russia after a “stormy” weekend meeting in Moscow. They warned Russia to implement new rules crucial to tackle soaring energy prices.

Members of the Group of Seven (G7) nations, who were hit by shortages last month when Russia blocked supplies through its export pipeline because of a dispute with Ukraine, urged Russia to ratify a legal charter that would break the export monopoly held by the state-owned giant Gazprom.

The Independent