Eurasia Review: On energy power Ukraine with Russia or EU?
The Ukraine is in the midst of a back-and-forth with Russia concerning prices of natural gas and ultimately concerning it’s potential fusing with Russia’s Customs Union. The latter would unify the country’s tariff system, and potentially open the path for Russia to swallow up and integrate Ukraine’s Naftogaz with Gazprom. Ukraine is juggling these issues while actively pursuing talks on European Union membership and the prospect of free trade with the European Union. Only in 2009 was the Ukraine seen as the “bad apple” when the faucets were closed and supply of gas to Europe was blocked. Russia managed to conjure a crisis that happened to draw the majority of Europe into its beef with the Ukraine. If the Ukraine were indeed siphoning EU Customer-meant gas, no one knows. Ukraine’s move is part of a larger picture-an attempt to maintain balance but perhaps not entirely commit to either Russia or the West. If the Ukraine doesn’t entirely commit, the other sides may lose faith, and this could lead to a weakening in relations.
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Read the story here.