Its America's fault, of course. Al Gore and his footstep followers, intoxicated with global warming cool aid, litigate oil and gas producers ad infinitum, so rather than supplying Europe with gas and using our own oil, we gobble up the world's supply...

Sorry about that y'all

Al, HEMET, USA

We're swimming in natural gas here and we'd be happy to share. Kind of expensive to liquefy it for shipping, tho.

jg, Orange County, USA

I wonder what Obama thinks? Methinks Ukraine will be back in the bosum of the Kremlin shortly.

Wasabi, Austin, US

Never rely on Russian gas specially in Winter,nobody will learn?

bernard, san antonio, USA

Jim, you're ABSOLUTELY right! We will handle this without your help. After all any US involvment into foreign affairs seems to take form of airstrikes. The pipeline is already quite old. It will not stand too long against such assistance :)

Alex, Moscow, Russia

I sense a very strongly worded letter coming out of Brussels. This will truly show the power of the EU 'soft power.'

IMHO, let's let the mighty EU handle this all by themselves. We spent lives and treasure to keep the bear away while the euros spent on social programs for immigrants..good luck.

Jim, Sant Barbara, USA

Martin, I think you are missing something in this situation. Russia fulfills it's obligations to send gas to Europe but it disappears somehow on Ukranian territory. Is it Russian fail that Ukraine can't deliver what it is obligated to deliver? I don't think so. So, who is ureliable after all?

Alex, Moscow, Russia

Europe can bellow all it likes, the Russians have the whip hand now. We knew it could happen but didn't prepare. Instead of using the time to develop clean safe energy via renewables we are forced to go nuclear. Or was it gov policy to leave it until there was public panic and no other option?

Frank, Norwich,

Alex, if anything this clearly shows that Europe should rely with its energy needs on a country like Russia as little as possible. Quasidictatorship uncapable to get past its past and above all uncapable to keep political balast out of the business is a dangerous and untrustworthy partner.

Martin O., Kolin, Czech Rep.

Think of all the carbon emissions the europeans will be saving. While they are shaking and shivering they will have the warm fuzzy feeling that they are saving the planet. Al Gore will be pleased. Don't ask america for help since our give-a-damn is broken.

Jim, Bishop,

chickens coming home to roost

Martin D, London,

Build the nukes and quickly! Electrify the railways, install electric heating in homes - the French had the right idea - clean, reliable nuclear power is the answer! Saves us having to rely on the Russkies or the Middle East. Gets my vote any day!

Jim, London, UK

Maybe Obama should save a few trillion of his stimulous package for fighting the next war. How long will Europe stand for this aggression from Mr. Putin, and how long until they come begging to Uncle Sam to help them fight the bad guys?

Harry Slikker, Lompoc,

Thank God we have some of our own left! Get building Nukes to get long term power independence, and in the meantime refire old coal and build new coal for the short term. EU mantras on Global Warming should be binned until energy stability and independence is achieved. Its an Emergency!

Danny, Manchester,

Ukraine has been accumulating debt for unpaid Russian gas for years- all while paying a HIGHLY SUBSIDIZED price nearly a quarter of what the rest of Europe pays, assuming Ukraine TRULY want to be the part of Europe. Ukraine is failed as a business partner after many compromises were offered to it.

Michael, Toronto, Canada

Lets take all the money we send to other countries as aid for one year and use it to develop renewable energy in the EU, take us off our dependency on fossil fuels and with it countries who we should not be plying money to... problem solved, next question?

Graeme, Edinburgh,

Leo, this clearly shows that Russia and Europe should not rely on country like Ukraine for transporting gas to clients in Europe. They want our gas but they don't want to pay for it. So, they use their position of transit state for unfair play.

Alex, Moscow, Russia

Funny how Ukraine was able to send 2 billion dollars worth of war materials to Georgia but is unable to pay for gas and oil for its own people. What an irresponsible leader Yushenko has been...time for him to go.....or maybe he can borrow the money from the Americans.....lol

dgr, Windsor,

Funny you must say that. EU continuously backed Russia, in fact look at Ukraine's NATO membership / EU talks - it was halted exactly because of Russia's demands. Fine, Ukraine learned the lesson fast. Obviously it makes sense for Ukraine to follow it's own interests in this situation. And they do.

Jim, Ottawa, Canada

Seems like good news for Germany as they will be looking for an excuse to lay off workers as the crash deepens and this will help reduce industrial output without provoking the inevitable ire of the unions.

Alan, Salina, Malta

The unfortunate practice of intimidation of neighbouring countries by Russia is continuing... All in the wake of its invasion of Georgia.

Leo, Orlando, USA

This clearly shows that Europe should not rely on a country like Russia for their energy supplies. The Russians will do anything to bully their neighbours. Being reliant on Russia is a nightmare situation.

Stu, Leicester,

Again Ukraine is holding Western Europe hostage. Russia even during the cold war has always been a very reliable supplier. The murky Ukraine power struggles are complicating this matter. Gazprom is simply applying the same approach to pricing as the Dutch Gasunie.

J.Rijntjes, Lelystad, Netherlands

This is justifiable action by the Russians, as they have not received any backing from Europe in their previous disputes with Ukraine. Europe and the Ukraine can only blame themselves for this mess

Tom, London, UK

Serves them right for relying on such an unstable regime.
Putin is almost as bad as Brown.

Sid Jacques, Durham,