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Ukraine has been withholding some Russian natural gas exports meant for customers in Europe, where several countries have reported falls in gas supplies amid a severe cold weather snap, an official with Ukraine's state-owned energy firm told AFP. "We have in fact allowed the withholding of gas in excess of the contract during the past day," a Naftogaz official said on the condition of anonymity. The official declined to say how much gas Ukraine -- which transports the vast majority of Russian gas exports to Europe -- was using over and above its agreed contract with Moscow. "But we are...

Dispute Fuels Anti-Russian Sentiment The Associated Press KIEV -- Russia's hard-line stance against Ukraine in their natural gas price dispute could backfire and provoke a surge of pro-Western sentiment. "Russia just doesn't get it -- to win influence ... don't apply pressure and make threats," said analyst Serhiy Taran of the International Institute of Democracy. "It creates problems for all the pro-Russian parties because Russia doesn't have a very good image right now." A planned protest Friday in support of cooperation with Russia attracted only eight people in downtown Kiev. Former presidential candidate Viktor Yanukovych's Party of the Regions, which...

SOCHI. Dec. 16 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters on Friday that he had just talked with Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko over the phone. "We have agreed that we will not politicize the gas issue," he said. Yushchenko said "this issue should not be politicized and I agree with him," Putin said. "There is the market and all our partners outside should be on equal terms. Business and economics is one thing and politics another," he said. "All sensible people in Ukraine understand that there were no problems with Crimea proceeding from Russia and there will be none...