Slovakia on Tuesday opened a pipeline capable of delivering natural gas from the European Union to Ukraine, marking a major step in the bloc’s efforts to aid the country in its escalating dispute with Russia. Opening up so-called reverse gas flows eastward is part of the EU’s response to Gazprom’s decision to cut supplies to Kiev on June 16 in a row over pricing and in the wake of Moscow’s annexation of Crimea. Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said the opening of the pipeline that could potentially meet up to 20 percent of Ukraine’s demand showed his country was united with the EU, which is also worried about a Russian supply cut this winter.
8
SEP
SEP