"Ukraine also needs Russian coal for its industries in the Donets Basin and around Dneiper River. Ukrainian coal mines started to deplete in 1973."
Sounds like Kremmlin propaganda - Ukraines coal reserves are estimated at 400 years at current usage. And no - the east can not secede.
http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:NhZgJivA9UMJ:www.epa.gov/cmop/intl/ukraine.html+%22coal+production%22+ukraine&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
The Russians are raising gas prices on everyone, in order to take the money, and to threaten them politically.
Ukraine should simply raise the pipeline transit charges to make up the difference.
I keep telling you: never, never, never trust the Russians. They are proving themselves again. They need about 300 years to catch up with normal European standards, and if they start moving up, they will pass the French on their way down.