Gas disputes continue in eastern europe...

Can we not settle this like civilized people?

The background on this is that Russia cut off natural gas deliveries to the Ukraine on new years day in a supposed price dispute, but promised that the rest of Europe wouldn't notice a change as the EU receives 20% of their gas from Russia. However this isn't the case as other countries are reporting a drop in pipeline pressure or late deliveries.

"Russia's business decisions seem to be as cold as the Siberia by cutting off supply in January when temperatures are dropping below 0." --

I understand that when you want more money for most products, you don't hand them out until paid in full or have a credit system set up. Gas supplies in the dead of winter isn't something you just halt. It's one of those humanitarian issues at that point, and bad business. I guess that's just western thinking. Russia has always held a hard line, hard knock life stance, and with a recent economy turn-around for them, they can afford to exert this once more, in reminiscence of the cold war.

In the mean time, EU countries effected will hold a crisis meeting on Monday, as I guess they aren't that cold in bed at night. My thoughts on this are that Russia is trying to give the Ukrainians over trying to bring NATO closer to Russia's borders. This is just more piling on the NATO controversy, and also Russian aggression.

We'll see what they come up with on Monday.

Link: Gas Dispute Spreads to Bulgaria http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/01/03/world/international-us-russia-ukraine-gas.html