[oil and gas] brinkmanship means a long cold winter for ukrainians

Ukraine may still face an energy crisis this winter, Deputy Prime Minister Andriy Klyuev said on Thursday, Aug. 17, despite assurances from Russia that it will not sharply raise the price of gas supplies to its neighbour.

Simple statement, yes? The DPM should know, right? Yes, he knows all right – knows how to play the game of brinkmanship with his fellow countrymen and women. This thing is all about the subsidized gas Vladimir Putin alluded to when, at the press meeting in Moscow before the G8, he said:

Let’s work out uniform rules together. You, for example, represent a German news agency. Why should German consumers pay 250 USD for 1000 cubic metres and Ukrainians 50? If you want to give Ukraine such a gift, why don’t you pay for it? Why do you want us to give such presents?

Full text here.