I'm an American, writing this from Indiana. Every negative comment about America that I have read here is true. As an individual, I'm sorry, but I have as much control over our government as you do yours. It's the people of the world vs. the politicians. Let's remember that and not hate each other.

Bob Copeland, Carmel, usa

Two words. Energy diversification.

Ben, York,

As another newspaper article states that France has 122 days of emergency gas supplies compared to Britains approximate 15 days. If France has so much more emergency gas available, why on earth are we exporting gas to Europe?

Stephen Phillips, Woking,

Those making sarcastic remarks and revelling in the fact that certain EU countries have had their gas supplies turned off (ironically, it seems to mostly be our American ''allies'') should be ashamed of themselves. People die from not having heat in their homes during winter.

Rebecca, London, England

Why so many Americans posting comments on the website of a British newspaper? Oh I forgot... your newspapers aren't worth reading and you have to look to Europe to find out what's really happening.

Robert, Manchester, UK

Not to ruin your fun, but this site is actually hosted in America.

Jill, Marseille, France

Who needs wars when Russia can stop industry and cause misery to thousands by their beligerence ?

Who needs wars when America through its greed ridden banking and Wall St institutions can bring even greater misery, demolish all industrial & commercial activity, causing hardship around the world !

Phil de Buquet, Newport,

the russian pipelines are in danger too, not just the ones in ukraine. europe is just a bargaining element for once - the Ukraine wants to join the EU so they should play nice; Russia needs the money from the gas they sell to the EU so they should give in; the EU itself doesn't really get a say...

hermione, brussels,

And for their next trick all these exorbitantly overpaid 'managers' and politicians are going to attempt to run something in a brewery. Don't hold your breath, just shut up and pay and give them your votes.

Terry, Guildford, UK

I agree with Lewis, this is an Act of War. Why is our gas under their tundra anyway ?

Nick M, St Ouen, France

On December 4th, Putin contradicted Gazprom & Ukraine officials and stated that Europe's Gas supplies would be disrupted.

http://euobserver.com/863/27238

Why does no reporter worth his salt uncover this plot.

Richard, arest,

Russia is the enemy of Western Europe.

Read -

http://euobserver.com/863/27238
EU commission fears gas system collapse
Today @ 09:19 CET
The Russian gas deliveries halt could lead to a technical collapse of the entire gas pipeline system in Ukraine, unnamed EU experts have told Financial Times

Richard, Bucharest,

So Martin, It's now you turn to the Greens for an answer. Shame we didn't invest more time and money sooner isn't it?

Lauren, Portsmouth, UK

So where are the greens to explain to us how to use alternate sources of energy, such as wind, solar etc. Or is it not sustainable and a reaslistic option. Oh well back to the good old fossil fuels and nuclear energy then.

Martin, Bath, UK

If I am to understand this - the UK pays the highest prices for gas but also export it to Europe to be sold at a lower price?

PAUL, LONDON, uk

I hope those EU governments that supported the US's (NATO) encirclement plan of Russia (Ukraine and Georgia to join NATO plus missiles in Czecho and Poland) will now explain to their freezing citizens how this (Rumfeld/Cheney) plan was supposed to work again.

dhome, sydney, australia

Russia's economy has crashed just like ours what better was to ramp up those gas prices :(

mrhackit, HOLT NORFOLK, UNITED KINGDOM

Why so much talk when it clearly states: "To try to restart supplies, the EU proposed yesterday that it should send independent monitors to watch the dials on the pipes at Ukraine’s borders. Russia claims that Ukraine is taking gas it has not paid for from the pipelines, reducing the onward supply"

Nick, London,

For all of us to depend on the middle east/russia for fuel is foolish and invites instability. The only economic stimulus we should be doing is to spend Billions right now to gain energy self sufficiency. Until we can tell the russians and the middle east to keep their oil we will be at their mercy.

Mike in Florida, Tampa, USA

In the future, house will generate their own electricity and water gaining independence from industry. Cars will be all electric with alternators that charge the batteries as you drive, independence from oil.

Dennis, Midland TX,

Why all you people are blaming Russia for gas crisis?
Russia sold the gas to Ukraine on $250 for cubic meter, while it sells the same gas to Europe on $418 for cubic meter.
From 2009 Russia wanted to sell gas to Ukraine on Europeen price, but Ukraine didn't accept it.

Paul, Moscow, Russia

Russian had 2 contracts with Ukraine:

1. gas export to Ukraine
2. gas transit to Europe.

The first contract expired and their is no new contract. Ukraine suffered gas crisis and then started stealing gas from transit pipelines.

Paul, Moscow, Russia

Lewis Zelvin: how on earth are you being tyrannized by the former USSR in Sacramento, CA. Did they cut your gas off too?

No money, no gas, period.

Tom Lowe, San Diego, USA

Let the EU lend top priority to the construction of the South Stream and Nord Stream pipeline projects. Ukraine (and Poland) are too unreliable and unpredictable for allowing that country to be the main transit country for EU destined gas. We simply have to get around them.

Kathy, Rotterdam, NL

What a business plan!
Don't sell your gas and push your customers to other sources of energy.
Those clever Russians.

Marco, Paris, France

This is the real Russia.Welcome.

Daniel, London,

Russia is just flexing its muscles. Please notice that everybody in Europe "shut straight up" about Georgia and Macedonia as soon as energy started to become an issue. Its gonna be an interesting time now the Great Bear has become Nationalist and ring wing rather than left and communist.

Simon, London,

Fossil fuels are finite resources, so unsurprisingly they will run out sooner rather than later. It's high time to develop alternative sources of energy, which would also make us independent from Russian gas.

Paulina, London, UK

Why so many Americans posting comments on the website of a British newspaper? Oh I forgot... your newspapers aren't worth reading and you have to look to Europe to find out what's really happening.

Robert, Manchester, UK

Lend the Ukrainians the cash to pay off the bill, get the gas flowing again the rest of Europe then start to reduce dependency on Russia,NB Russia is changing its constitution so next time round Putin can stay in power as president for 6 years.Start now

bob holmes, axbridge , England

A very worrying state of affairs. Alternative and independent fuel sources should be at the top of most political agendas this is not acceptabled for developed countries to find themselves in this situation.

Alex Spencer, Sanderstead, UK

"Britain has begun to export emergency supplies of gas to Europe. "

If we have so much to spare, why were we in Britain getting in piped in from Belgium in the first place?

Will energy prices in the UK rise again as it is much more profitable for our energy companies to flog to desperate Europe?

Charles, Birmingham, United Kingdom

Surely this proves the case that energy needs to be liberalised across europe and that europe's dependence on russian gas is a major strategic mistake. The fact that Helmut Schmidt is a Board member of Gazprom only reinforces the fact that Germany and other countries are dangerously out of touch.

james murphy, London,

I agree with Marie the EU should apply pressure on Ukraine. Their application to join should be considered carefully or not at all.
Russia has every right to cut supplies, after all it's a business deal at the end of the day. So get the bill paid and gas flowing again.

gabrielle andrews, Worthing, Sussex

In this way two Slavian-rooted states are going to prolong a winter holidays in European countries.

Konisbay, Nukus, Karakalpakstan

This should, at last, convinve western european governments that the Russian government cannot be trusted as either a military of political force and that all measures should be taken to ensure that alternative fuel supplies are developed, including nuclear.

David Leslie, Perth, Scotland

It's simple - Russia has shown for whatever reason to be an unreliable supplier of energy. Every Country should bear this in mind when entering into contracts for energy supply with Russian companies. France's long standing policy of relying on nuclear power looks very sensible now.

Neill, Maidstone, UK

I am puzzled at the attack on UK by someone whose country has only recently recognised that destroying great swathes of Hardwood Forests contributes to Global Warming.

The UK in fact gets about 10% of its supplies from Russia and is as shown above currently exporting gas to Belgium.

Alex Beech, Anstruther, Scotland

Better get those nuclear power plants built as quickly as possible!... The Russians have got us by the short & curlies

Jeff, Someset,

For those of you who derive some satisfaction from the idea of Brits freezing in their homes, the UK is not reliant on Russian gas - most of our supply comes from Norway. Do your homework and aim your spiteful little remarks elsewhere.

Sophie, London,

It was the biggest mistake ever to supplied some years ago thousand tons of grain to the oh so poor russians. Now they are back in their role of power.

Anton, Vogelwaarde, The Netherlands

Lewis, when were you last "tyrannized by the Former Republics of the Soviet Union"?

If you want to fight the Russians please do so via Alaska. I would rather take this as a prompt to source other supplies of energy. Russia may learn that if you don't look after your customers, someone else will.

Simon, London,

I can't believe you guys were sooo stupid as to give a Russian company this much control over your energy supply? Please, tell me again how we ought to be more like you? But wait a second while i turn the thermostate down, it's a little warm in here my brilliant European cousin's. Stay warm guys:)

Ed Small, Greenville, North Carolina, usa

I have very little sympathy for Europe, especially the UK where obsolete and inappropriate neo-classical economics principles drive policy. We are 3 or so years into a major multi-faceted energy crisis that needs an intelligent global response based on all the evidence, not just voodoo economics BS

Rod Campbell-Ross, Sydney, Australia

You countries have no one else to blame but yourselves. After so many years you conned yourselves to believing you could trust the political mandarins in Moscow. Explain to your democratic electorate!! Why are you so stupid to rely so heavily on energy supplies from one source for your people?

Jonthan T-M, Malta,

Those Socialist Europeans shouldn't worry about it being too cold. They are always crying about global warming, so how could they possibly be cold?

From the mouth of a Dane (Living in the U.S. of A)

dia mortensen, New York, USA

Why doesn't EU make Ukrane pay for the gas...?

Marie, Syracuse, USA

Reinforces Turkey's EU bid as an alternative route for Central Asian energy, after all much of the gas in the pipes come from there via Russia.

Ariel Everard, Beijing, China

Why is Russia characterized as tyrannical when it is simply exercising its free-market right to control the sale of its own products? Whose fault is it that other countries have become completely dependent on their gas? Can military force really be justified?

Joe Harenski, Pittsburgh, USA

Lewis, please don't take up diplomacy, War is not the way to solve problems with fuel, surely Iraq has at least taught us that!

Emma, London, England

This should be interpreted as an "Act of War". I believe that NATO should mobilize its forces and prepare to attack the Ukraine and /or Russia. At the very least put forces on the ground to reopen the Pipeline. How long are we going to be tyrannized by the Former Republics of the Soviet Union?

Lewis Zelvin, Sacramento, USA

One can only assume that once the monitors are in place, the gas will start flowing again. It would be too expensive to cheat for whoever is cheating.

Sergei, Moscow, Russia