Turning the taps off leaves Europe short of gas

The flow of gas from Russia to Europe crossing Ukrainian territory has been completely switched off, affecting several EU countries. But the two central players in the growing row over an unpaid bill — Russia and Ukraine — are blaming each other for the shut-down.

Ukraine says Russia turned off the taps, accusing Gazprom of what it called “energy blackmail.”

Russia says it was Ukraine who closed the fourth and final export pipeline shipping gas to Europe. The EU has offered to send observers to Ukraine to verify the volumes of gas moving between the two countries.