Eastern members say Nord Stream extension not in EU interests:
Ten European governments -- the easternmost members of the European Union -- have complained in a letter that Russia's plans to extend its natural-gas link to Germany run counter to EU interests and risk further destabilizing Ukraine.
The letter, written on November 26, was signed by Poland, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Greece, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
It calls for a summit-level EU debate on the Nord Stream II project.
Reuters quoted the letter as saying: "The position of the European Commission on the Nord Stream II project will also essentially influence the perception of the EU's common foreign and security policy among its core allies and traditional partners."
A group of European companies in September signed an agreement with Russia's state-controlled Gazprom to expand its Nord Stream pipeline to Germany, bypassing Ukraine.
On November 25, Gazprom said it would halt gas deliveries to Ukraine.
Kyiv has said it could find cheaper supplies elsewhere. (Reuters, Platts, Naturalgaseurope.com)
Kyiv says Russia cuts coal deliveries:
Ukraine's energy minister has told the parliament in Kyiv that Russia has begun to restrict coal supplies to Ukraine, days after the Kremlin threatened to punish Kyiv for a power blackout of Russian-annexed Crimea.
Volodymyr Demchyshyn told lawmakers on November 27 that pro-Russian separatists who control coal mines in eastern Ukraine also have halted the delivery of coal supplies.
He said that with two ships carrying coal from South Africa due to arrive in December, Kyiv would have enough coal to "ensure the stable functioning" of its energy system for 45 to 50 days.
He said Ukraine was in talks with South Africa about further coal deliveries.
Russian Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak said on November 24 that Russia might cut coal supplies to punish Ukraine for what he said was its deliberate refusal to help rebuild power lines to Crimea that were blown up by unknown saboteurs.
Russia has already cut natural gas deliveries to Ukraine.
Demchyshyn said Ukraine had enough reserves to last through the winter.
Russia seized Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014, plunging relations between the onetime allies into crisis. (Reuters, AP, AFP, dpa)