UKRAINE
Customers told dispute could affect gas supply
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — A top Ukrainian official warned Saturday that European customers could see serious natural gas disruptions in about two weeks if the energy dispute between Russia and Ukraine is not resolved, and the Russian gas monopoly Gazprom accused Ukraine of boycotting contract negotiations.
As Russia and Ukraine traded accusations in their bitter dispute over energy prices, four European nations — Romania, Hungary, Poland and Bulgaria — all reported some supply drops in natural gas Saturday.
Gazprom cut gas shipments to Ukraine on Thursday. Then Gazprom and Ukraine began offensives, both trying to assure western European nations that they were reliable energy partners and that the fault lay with their rival.
The Russian delegation hoped to convince investors in Prague, Paris, Berlin and London that Kiev is to blame for any gas shortages, saying Ukraine is siphoning off natural gas from Russian shipments, as well as refusing to pay $600 million in fines or negotiate a new price contract for 2009.
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