Russia, Europe draw battle lines in energy dispute

After the discussions at the latest Russia-European Union summit laid bare the growing disagreements between Moscow and the European bloc over how to guarantee “energy security” to the Old Continent’s countries, the leaders of the pro-Western GUAM grouping (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova) launched an initiative that appears to be aimed at breaking Russia’s monopoly on fuel supplies to Europe. The stage seems to be set for further geo-strategic competition between Russia and the West.

As most analysts predicted, the May 25 meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the top EU officials in the Black Sea resort town of Sochi failed to produce an agreement on energy policies. The energy disputes have hung over the relationship since last January, when a brief disruption in Russian gas supplies to some Western European countries amid a price war with Ukraine sent shock waves across the Continent.

Eurasia Daily