ENERGY/RUSSIA/UKRAINE: “Russia is tearing up its contracts to supply Ukraine with natural gas, sparking another stand-off between Moscow and Kiev and raising fears of new gas supply shortages across Europe during the winter. … Russian energy officials said the dispute was commercial and reflected its disagreement with an arbitration decision that just went in Ukraine’s favor. The situation kindled memories of previous Moscow-Kiev gas fights in 2006 and 2009, which left Europe with shortages. But this time could play out differently, as Moscow no longer holds the same stranglehold on European energy supplies as it once did.”
-Thomas Grove, “Russia Moves to Scrap Accords to Send Gas to Ukraine: Move, which comes amid tensions between nations, could affect flow of gas bound for Europe,” The Wall Street Journal online, Mar. 3, 2018 5:20pm