Russia Reopens Gas Row By Accusing Ukraine of Syphoning Eu Supply

Russia’s state gas giant yesterday accused Ukraine of causing fuel shortages in Europe by siphoning off too much of the gas that passes through its pipelines en route to the west. The Gazprom claim threatens to revive one of the most serious crises of the year-old pro-western administration of Ukraine’s president, Viktor Yushchenko, in which Russia cut off gas to its neighbor for 24 hours over a pricing dispute on January 1.

The claim came hours before Mr Yushchenko made a keynote annual address to salvage his flagging presidency, which is now at an all-time low in the opinion polls.

Russian state TV said the amount of gas pumped through Ukraine had risen by 35m cubic meters in the past few days, but exports sent on to Europe had fallen.

Gazprom’s deputy chief executive, Alexander Medvedev, said: "It’s impossible to work like this when all measures are being taken in Russia to optimize deliveries." Gazprom has cut its gas deliveries to Hungary, Croatia, Italy and Poland in the past week as Russia struggles to heat itself during a record cold snap.

Ukraine’s Prime Minister, Yury Yekhanurov, told Interfax news agency that the country of 50 million people had consumed a "record-high" amount of gas in the past 24 hours, but was meeting its international obligations.

The 24-hour disruption on new year’s day pulled the rug from under President Vladimir Putin’s attempts to make Russia’s G8 chairmanship, which started that day, focus upon "energy security". Yet it also heightened popular dissatisfaction with the Yushchenko government, causing parliament to vote to sack the president’s cabinet. Mr Yushchenko claimed that the vote had no legal weight.

He spoke with Mr Putin last night to discuss gas, among other issues, the Kremlin said. Mr Yushchenko also used his annual televised address to the nation last night to make the case for a referendum over changes to the constitution due to come into effect this year, which would weaken the post of president and bolster the role of parliament and prime minister.

The changes were part of a settlement package agreed with his predecessor, Leonid Kuchma, to resolve the electoral crisis of late 2004, in which huge protests helped Mr Yushchenko’s "Orange" coalition to overturn the fraudulent victory of the then prime minister, Viktor Yanukovich. Mr Yushchenko said in his address that he recognized the changes, but added that they were "not ideal", as the electorate had not been consulted.

Reuters news agency said the president said he wanted an "honest dialogue about political reform" with the electorate, a reference to his desire for a referendum on the new constitution after crucial parliamentary polls on March 26.

He also appealed for a "moratorium on all decisions or actions by the legislature and executive which could lead to instability in Ukraine".

The speech appeared to offer a deal under which the warring factions in Ukrainian politics would work together to ensure the March polls are fair. Opinions polls suggest that Mr Yushchenko is poorly placed to win the election. His rival in the 2004 crisis, Mr Yanukovich, heads the Regions party, which is expected to win 25% of the vote. Mr Yushchenko’s Our Ukraine bloc and his former prime minister turned arch critic, Yulia Tymoshenko, are vying for second place with about 13%.