The political pressure is rising as the pipeline pressure falls Russia has threatened to cut gas supplies to Ukraine because of the dispute over prices. That could also affect EU countries, as much Russian gas is delivered to the West through Ukraine. We examine what’s behind the row, and its potential impact on Europe and its gas supplies. What is the row about? The immediate dispute is about Ukraine’s very large unpaid gas bill: $2.2bn (£1.2bn; 1.4bn euros), according to the Russian state-controlled utility Gazprom. If Ukraine does not settle its bill, Gazprom will in effect install the world’s largest pre-pay meter, and Ukraine will be obliged to pay for its gas in advance. If it fails to pay, Gazprom says it will restrict or suspend delivery. But lurking behind this is the power struggle between the interim Ukrainian government, which leans towards the EU, and Russia, which wants […]