Oman Tribune: Energy blackmail unacceptable, G7 leaders warn

G7 leaders will warn on Thursday, in a clear rebuke to Russia, that manipulating energy supplies to intimidate one’s neighbours is unacceptable and that they need to diversify their energy systems to avoid getting blackmailed.

“The use of energy supplies as a means of political coercion or as a threat to security is unacceptable,” a draft G7 summit statement said. Russia supplies about 30 per cent of Europe’s gas, with about half of that transiting Ukraine.

As the Ukraine crisis has deepened, Russian state-controlled giant Gazprom has doubled gas prices and demanded billions in back payments from cash-strapped Kiev, threatening to turn off the taps if it does not get its money.

Trying to avoid a repeat of the 2006 and 2009 crises when Gazprom cut supplies, the EU has brought Ukraine and Russia together for talks, with officials due to report back shortly on a possible deal.
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