From our newsroom:
Russian gas giant Gazprom says it is willing to discuss alterations to the current gas agreement with Kyiv but also warns time is running out for Ukraine to order further shipments.
Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov suggested on February 26 the company was "ready" to exclude gas supplies to the separatist-held areas of eastern Ukraine from Kyiv's gas bill.
The EU has announced that it is arranging a meeting of the Russian and Ukrainian energy ministers in Brussels for March 2.
Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz said this week Gazprom had not supplied all the gas Ukraine already paid for, only to learn Gazprom considered gas sent to areas held by rebels part of the supply of gas shipped to Ukraine.
Naftogaz rejected making another advance payment for more gas until Ukraine received all the gas from its last payment.
The threatened suspension of gas supplies to Ukraine could affect the EU since about half of Russian gas supplies to the EU transit Ukrainian territory.
Based on reporting by Reuters and Interfax
Speaking in London, former Russian oligarch, Kremlin critic, and decade-long inmate Mikhail Khodorkovsky has urged the West to build relations with Russian opposition groups, Reuters reports.
From our VOA colleague:
Just so you know it's out there. :-)
Here's an excerpt:
Welcome to Canada’s unofficial war. It’s being fought on several fronts. In Canada, the Ukrainian lobby, led by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, pressures Ottawa to aid the government of President Petro Poroshenko. But the community also raises funds for its own improvised stream of aid, via organizations such as Army SOS. At the individual level, people have taken up tasks ranging from providing front-line technical help to playing key roles in Ukraine’s propaganda campaign.
And some – a handful – have taken up arms. While Canadians who have gone to join the fight in Syria have had their passports revoked, at least one Ukrainian-Canadian who joined a pro-government militia and fought in the Lugansk region has returned to Canada to help raise money for Army SOS. He hopes to recruit other Canadians to the front line.
This uncharted territory is not without risks....