[starfish923]

The Ukraine just MIGHT have been siphoning off Germany/Poland-bound gas from the Russian pipeline running through the Ukraine.

Nah, Ukraine wouldn't do that! Putin's the bad guy, natcherly.

Besides, Putin didn't give the Ukraine enough warning that he was raising the price four times. He didn't let them "prepare" for the shock of paying the same amount as the Russians.

Shame on Putin, making the nice Ukrannians pay market price for Russian LNG.

Just who does he think he IS?

[GSlob]

Buy the same logic, the Ukrainians could charge Gazprom whatever they could think up as the gas transit fees. Since any alternative outlets are several years away [Baltic bypass pipeline or pipelines to China or Pacific], in the short term Putin has no choice but to settle, and would do better by doing it without an idiotic and damaging scandal. In the longer term, though, the Poles, the Ukrainians, the Hungarians and the Balts need crash coal gasification program, like South Africa did. Technology is there, and they have both coal and about 4 years to build the infrastructure.

[jb6]

As far as Spany is conserned, only dead Russians are worth anything and their resources belong to the "world" for free....they don't deserve to make a profit and should be forced to continue soviet era handouts.....for the betterment of others. Then after cheerleading and practicing leftest journalistic tactics, Spany claims he's a conservative.