Platts: Ukraine makes multi-pronged bid for energy independence

Ever since the collapse of the Soviet Union and Ukraine's subsequent independence in 1991, Kiev has lived in the energy shadow of its much larger neighbor to the east.

Its dependence on Russia was almost complete, especially in the thorny area of natural gas imports, and the relationship between the two has been fraught for years because of pricing and transit disputes.

Ukraine has pledged its ambitions of energy independence before, but these repeatedly turned out to be empty promises and dismissed by many as rhetoric in its battle with Moscow for cheaper energy.

Now, though, it seems like Ukraine is getting serious about diversifying away from Russia, and maybe Russia will have to take notice this time.  MORE