[livius]

It comes from Gazprom, but don’t most of the pipelines pass through Ukraine? Any disruption of the area would certainly disrupt the gas supply - which Europe depends on, and which Russia depends on too (for the income).

[Cossak]

This pipeline was big project of USSR time, handed to Ukraine after USSR dissolution. Ukraine blackmailed Russia not once not paying for consumed gas even at subsidized prices, when Russia stopped gas supply for them, they stole gas intended for Western consumers, and it was big scandal and Russia was declared guilty in all possible sins. Gasprom realized alternative gas supply routes to Europe and kept afloat Ukrainian ,heavily worn out infrastructure mostly for political reasons. Ukrainian economy produces enormous debts and oligharchs, it indebted to Russian banks only 10 000 000 000 $, Russian business has big assets there, 3,5 mln Ukrainians earn their living in Russia, all their industrial production consumes Russia, many items only for better relations for there is enough domestic production. Ukrainian debt to West is 140 000 000 000 and they asked for additional 35 000 000 000 on next two years. New Kievan government is most oligharchic in last two decades. This Maidan thing was not about democracy and freedom, usual fight of oligarchic clans. (Yawn :))