The Christian Science Monitor: Ukraine crisis: Can Ukraine, Russia avoid another gas shutoff?

Ukraine violence escalated over the weekend and into Monday as pro-Russian militants clashed with Ukraine forces in the east and the Black Sea port city of Odessa. The threat of another natural gas shutoff intensified, too, with Russia and Ukraine failing to agree on terms for paying down Ukraine's gas debt.

Weekend clashes between Ukraine forces and pro-Russian militants extended into Monday as violence spread to the Black Sea port city of Odessa.

The street-level unrest parallels escalating diplomatic tensions between Kiev and Moscow over Ukraine's unpaid natural gas bills. After trilateral talks in Poland late last week failed to reach a compromise and Russia threatened to cut off gas supplies to Ukraine on May 31, European Union officials huddled Monday to figure out how to replace Russian gas with other sources.
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