Putin criticizes EU-Ukraine pipeline deal

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin criticized the European Union and Ukraine Tuesday for taking a unilateral step toward coordinating energy supplies.

A new pact signed by the European Commission, international banks and the Ukraine government outlines $3.4 billion in European investments in Ukraine’s natural gas pipeline system, the EU Observer reported Tuesday.

In exchange for the investment, Ukraine agreed to have its gas company, Naftogaz, comply with EU energy market laws, the Observer said.

In response to the pact, Putin said, To discuss questions of supplies without the main supplier is simply not serious. He was alluding to Russia, where the gas supply originates.

If this is the start of an attempt to systematically ignore the interests of the Russian Federation, then this is very bad, he said.

During the winter, for the second time, disputes between Russian and Ukraine over Ukraine’s gas bill led to disruptions in supplies for many European countries.

The pact, however, funds pipeline improvements meant to increase Ukraine’s transit capacity, just as Russia is building two pipelines that would bypass Ukraine’s role in the Russian to Europe delivery system, the Observer reported.