Ongerustheid over gasconflict Rusland-Oekraïne (en)

A dispute between Russia and Ukraine has sparked concerns over possible gas shortages in Europe if Moscow pulls the plug on its supplies to Kiev, which would also cause difficulties for the main export pipeline across Ukraine to central and western Europe.

The energy ministers of Ukraine and Russia on Wednesday (28 December) failed to reach a deal to resolve the crisis, but they agreed to resume their talks on Thursday.

Russia's state-controlled monopoly Gazprom warns it will shut the supply of gas off to Ukraine on Sunday (1 January) if the Ukrainians refuse to pay over four times more for its exports.

Meanwhile, some EU politicians have pressed Ukraine not to interrupt the flow of gas through its territory, after Kiev argued it could take 15 percent of shipments destined for European markets for its own use.

The incoming Austrian presidency of the European Union has tried to calm fears of shortages, while promising it would focus on greater energy independence for Europe from Russia.

"Europe needs more investment and greater diversification of its energy sources," the Austrian economics minister Martin Bartenstein said on Wednesday (28 December), Financial Times reported.

The EU currently imports about 45 percent of its gas supply from Russia, and about half of those supplies transit through Ukraine via its Brotherhood pipeline.

According to Mr Bartenstein, the latest rift between the major gas supplier and transit country proves that Europe should continue working on new pipelines, such as the Nabucco project.

The 2,841-km-long Nabucco pipeline that will cost €5 billion starts in the Caspian region and the Middle East, and will cross Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria where the gas will be distributed to France, Germany and other EU countries via the existent pipelines.

Kiev rejects the price hike

The present gas row has culminated over the past days, as Ukraine refused to pay over four times more for Russian gas than what it currently pays, with the price for 1,000 cubic metres jumping from €40 to €190.

Kiev has asked for the increases to be phased in over five years instead of all at once and threatened it would refer Moscow to the international arbitration court in Sweden if it insists on the price hike.

Ukraine argues Moscow's move is politically motivated as some other ex-Soviet states pay less for its gas exports.