Russia reduces gas flows to Europe via Ukraine

MOSCOW/KIEV (Reuters) – Russia reduced gas flows to Europe via Ukraine on Monday, a measure it said was to stop its neighbor siphoning off fuel but which Kiev said could jeopardize supplies to European countries including Germany.

Countries in southern and eastern Europe reported new falls in gas supplies from Russia while Serbia and Bulgaria urged industry to scale back demand and switch to alternative fuels, the first sign supply disruptions were hitting customers.

In an escalation of a pricing row with Ukraine that saw Russia cut off gas supplies to its neighbor on New Year’s Day, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin ordered supplies pumped via Ukraine to Europe to be cut by about one sixth — the same amount Moscow accuses Kiev of illegally siphoning off.

Reuters