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OK, if that is true, then it puts Russia in a better light. But it looks as if Ukraine has tried to make a fairly reasonable counter offer. And it remains that Russia is cutting off their fuel supply in the dead of winter.

Russia would still look better if they agreed to accept Ukraine's offer for a limited period, and gave them next summer to come up with the market price or find another source of fuel.

The Russians offered gas at $160 per 1000 cu meters, AND to help pay for the increase offered to increase the transit fees from $1.00 to $1.75. The Ukranians DEMANDED $3.00 and have even asked $5.00 at one point. At the $3.00 rate the Ukraine would be getting Russian gas for free. I recognize it as their right to ask this much. However, a large part of the problem is the Ukraine has been guilty of siphoning off gas for years, and reselling it to the EU at market rates. That is how Yulia Tymoshenko made her $11.5 billion. Hopefully, this will be settled in the near future, but everyone needs to recognize there are two sides to this story.