Ukraine’s natural gas contract with Gazprom calls for a pre-payment mechanism. Unless a payment registers in the company’s account within two days, Gazprom Chief Executive Officer Alexei Miller said the spigot would be closed . “The supply of gas to Ukraine at the ordered amount … will result in a full stop of Russian gas supplies to Ukraine, which creates serious risks to gas transit to Europe,” he said. Gazprom in the winters of 2006, 2009 and 2014 cut gas deliveries through Ukraine briefly in response to contractual disputes with Kiev. That left downstream consumers in Europe short on natural gas supplies. The row sparked concerns from European leaders over the influence Gazprom has over the regional energy markets, leading policymakers to create measures to deter companies from controlling natural resources and transit arteries. […]