Russia’s dominance of energy supplies to eastern Europe is a frustration to Ukraine and its President Viktor Yushchenko has been trying to challenge that by holding an energy summit. It was attended by six of the region’s leaders from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Georgia and Azerbaijan.

Yushchenko made a veiled reference to Russia when he said: “Energy topics alarmingly often acquire a political colour. In diplomatic vocabulary the term ‘energy blackmail’ has now firmly established itself. Examples of energy pressures have become almost a daily routine for the world community.

Ukraine’s wants to become a transport corridor for oil from the Caspian Sea to eastern Europe and the delegates reportedly agreed to set up a working group to examine that possibility. Several of them have accused Russia of playing politics with its energy exports.

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