Russia threatens already embattled Ukraine with cutoff of natural gas over unpaid bills

     By June 3rd Russia may decide to cut off natural gas to Ukraine due to unpaid bills. The president of  Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, promised a new dynamic effort to combat the pro-Russian separatists who have detained buildings and cities across eastern Ukraine. The gas debt may have went up to $5.2 billion by the end of May and Russia is asking for at least a good portion of the payment by Monday (June 2nd). A few days ago Ukraine has decided to give Russia $786 million as payment for the debt which they are hoping will be enough for Russians to accept. Negotiations have been going on for months now, so the results of it all will be interesting to see how Russia will accept the offer that Ukraine/ Poroshenko have offered or if they will indeed start cutting off natural gas given to Ukraine The problem with Ukraine’s gas debts is that Ukraine is bankrupt,” stated by What Gazprom, chief executive.

-Monica Gryszowka

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/russia-threatens-already-embattled-ukraine-with-cutoff-of-natural-gas-over-unpaid-bills/2014/05/31/06275202-e838-11e3-afc6-a1dd9407abcf_story.html