Another "Cold" War?

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Discord between Russia and its neighbours in recent months has cast a shadow of suspicion over the former Soviet republic. In response to the United States' disapproval to the August 2008 attack on Georgia, Russian president Dmitry Medvedev announced that his country does not desire another cold war, but it does not fear one either. The beginning of 2009 marks the start of a cold war of a different sort. A commercial dispute between Russia and Ukraine left 18 European countries without the natural gas supplies required to operate their factories and heat their homes in the midst of a harsh winter.

Russia's Grip on its Former Soviet Neighbours

The short but severe war in Georgia was Russia's effort to prevent Georgia from retaking the Ossetia breakaway regions: South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Initially most western nations considered Russia's actions during the Georgian conflict to be unduly harsh. Later reports from the Human Rights Watch and the BBC cited possible war crimes committed by Georgia. In November, Amnesty International released a 69 page report citing both Georgia and Russia for breaking serious international laws on the conduct of war. Since the conflict, only Russia and a handful of its close allies have recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia while the United States, and most of the west, view the regions as crucial for the territorial integrity of Georgia.

The European gas crisis came as a result of Russia raising the price it charges the Ukraine for 2009. The new price for Ukraine, $450 per 1,000 cubic meters, is about the same price that Russia charges the rest of Europe. However, that price is more than double the $179.50 Ukraine was paying last year. After Russia cut off supplies to the Ukraine on the New Year, suspicion arose that Ukraine was siphoning gas headed for Europe through their pipelines, resulting in Russia cutting off all supplies running through Ukraine a week later. As a result, at least 11 Europeans have died from the bitter cold. After another week, an indignant Ukraine finally agreed to a monitoring deal in order to make their pipeline systems transparent.

When little or none of the gas supplies made it to Europe, several days of finger pointing ensued. Russia again accused Ukraine of stealing gas intended for Europe and Ukraine claims it was only using the "technical gas" required to power the compressors required for the gas to flow through their pipelines. Russia stated that it is not their responsibility to power Ukraine's inefficient pipelines and expecting them to 'foot the bill' is intolerable. Desperate for a resolution, energy companies in France, Italy and Germany offered to supply the "technical gas required to get the gas flowing.

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 User Comments:

chepstow

Sep 23, 2009 4:39 AM

If there was i want to stand stilll and do nothing because everyone else will be argueing

Kevin

Feb 3, 2009 3:58 PM

I think with the escalating political tensions there is a very real probability of delving into geo-aggressive uncertainty.
I just hope it works out. :(

The One

Jan 30, 2009 2:55 AM

Who cares

hugo

Jan 30, 2009 12:05 AM

this article has no grit...
i mean where is all the booze and steamy lies. There should at least be a sexy double cross by some hot girls.
convergence is just not what it used to be i guess.

yeltsin

Jan 27, 2009 7:30 PM

i could go for a cold one

another cold war??

Jan 25, 2009 1:27 AM

no i dont think there will be another cold war... at least not for a while. at the moment the US is unable to start a war, be it cold or not, and russia has no interest in one..

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