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Dossier: Fueling Europe with Russian Gas

January 5, 2006

The dispute between Russia and Ukraine over the delivery of gas has launched a debate in Europe about dependency, energy policy and foreign relations.

https://p.dw.com/p/7jma
Image: dpa

When the dispute over Russia's supply of natural gas to Ukraine broke out in late December after Kiev refused to pay the higher prices demanded by Moscow, Europe shivered. Then on Jan. 1, when the gas giant Gazprom turned off the flow of fuel, Ukraine responded by funneling off its required amount from the pipeline transgressing its country on way to western Europe. All across central Europe, energy providers registered a drop in pressure and consumers worried the supply was in danger of being cut.

A gas war -- or at least a war of words and threats -- erupted as politicians in Germany and elsewhere began to question dependency on Russia for a steady supply of gas. Some pointed to alternative sources of energy, while others recommended a return to nuclear energy. The dispute is forcing European governments to face up to the dangers that result from coupling energy policy with foreign policy.

DW-WORLD summarizes the main issues of the gas dispute.

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Reports & Analysis

Opinion: Gas Dispute Undermines Russian Foreign Policy

Regardless of what happens in the Russian-Ukrainien gas dispute, the Kremlin's global foreign policy strategy has already been badly damaged.
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Germany Committed to Phasing Out Nuclear Power

The "gas war" between Russia and Ukraine has fueled a heated debate in Germany about the country's energy policy, but Chancellor Angela Merkel reaffirmed her government's commitment to the nuclear phase-out.
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Press Review: "The 21st Century's First Declaration of War"

European editorial writers are keeping an eye on the gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine, which has been likened to an energy policy earthquake, the effects of which are being felt across Europe.
January 3, 2006

Gas Dispute Reignites Atomic Energy Debate

Economics Minister Michael Glos suggested Germany could backtrack on its decision to stop using nuclear power as natural gas companies reported disruptions in supplies from Russia due to the Moscow-Kiev gas dispute.
January 2, 2006

Moscow, Kiev Reach Breakthrough in Gas Pricing Row

Russia and Ukraine struck a five-year gas supply deal Wednesday, ending a long-standing fractious dispute over pricing and designed to guarantee supplies to Kiev as well as to Europe.
January 4, 2006

Germany Not Affected by Russian Gas Dispute

Even though Russia is the largest supplier of natural gas to Germany, consumers here have no reason to worry that their supplies will suffer as a consequence of the Russian-Ukrainian dispute.
January 3, 2006

Gas Delivery Dispute Hits EU

Because of a dispute between Russian gas supplier Gazprom and Ukraine, gas deliveries to some eastern European Union countries fell over the new year's weekend.
January 2, 2006

Gazprom on Offensive in 'Gas War' with Ukraine

The "gas war" between Russia and Ukraine has had a chilling effect on Europe as a result of the continent's reliance on Russia's gas monopoly Gazprom. Supplying Europe with gas, however, is not Gazprom's only ambition.
January 3, 2006