Monday, April 7, 2014

Ukraine's Economic Crisis Has Just Gotten Worse


Gazprom Says No Payments From Ukraine As Monday Deadline Looms -- Reuters

* Ukraine gas debt stands at $2.2 billion

(Reuters) - Ukraine has made no payments to Gazprom despite a midnight (2000 GMT) deadline to reduce its $2.2 billion debt for natural gas supplies, the Russian gas producer said on Monday.

The Ukrainian government says Russia has increased the gas price for Kiev for political reasons in a crisis over Moscow's annexation of Crimea that has fuelled East-West tensions.

A Gazprom spokesman declined to say what action, if any, the company would take if Kiev did not meet the deadline - which falls on the seventh day of each month - for settling its monthly bill.

"There have been zero payments from Ukraine," he said.

Read more ....

Update: Gas wars: Ukraine due on $2.2 bn debt to Gazprom -- RT

My Comment: If Russia closes the gas pipeline .... it will also severely impact Europe. My prediction is that they will keep the gas flowing, but they will conduct a review (probably on a daily basis) on what to do next. And if the crisis escalates .... I do expect the Russian government to issue the order to close the taps.

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