Russian gas crisis turns into a farce

They promised there would be gas, but still nothing came. The Russia-Ukraine gas dispute has deepened, with an eagerly-awaited resumption of European deliveries today turning out to be a farce. Much was made of a new deal to unblock supplies after a week of shortages, amid increasing frustration over previous on-again-off-again deals. But after the taps were turned on in Russia, Gazprom accused Ukraine of blocking the transit to Europe, and claimed the US was also behind the action.

Ukraine said there had been a lack of co-ordination on the part of Russia, and then said it could not deliver the gas without cutting off several of its regions. At the root of the crisis is a dispute over unpaid bills and prices charged for gas transit through Ukraine.