H/T to Benny Peiser for this excerpt from a Times article (paywalled)
Putin Ready To Turn Off Europe’s Gas Supply
The Times, 26 February 2015 David Charter
Russia threatened yesterday to disrupt gas supplies to Europe within days, opening a new front in the showdown over Ukraine.
President Putin demanded immediate advance payments from Kiev to keep the gas taps on in the depths of winter. Cutting off gas would be likely to hit transit flows to Europe.
His ultimatum came on the day that the EU announced ambitious plans for an “energy union” to end Russia’s energy stranglehold over the continent.
Officials admitted, however, that it would take many years and an investment of €1 trillion in infrastructure to achieve energy security after delays caused by previous failed attempts at better EU co-operation.
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