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Russia Pressures Ukraine by Cutting Off Gas Supplies

Moscow opened a new economic front in its showdown with Ukraine on June 16, when the Russian energy giant Gazprom cut off natural gas supplies to the country, saying the government in Kiev had failed to make payments for past deliveries. The move came days after Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko alleged that Russia had sent tanks to separatists in eastern Ukraine.

The skirmishing threatens to intensify unrest in the region, where the U.N. says that more than 350 people, including 257 civilians, have been killed since the start of a pro-Russian uprising in April. On June 14, rebels shot down a military plane in the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk, killing 49 people.

The Ukrainian leader’s claims were backed by U.S. and British officials. Russia, however, insisted that it had not intervened in the fighting, strenuously denying that its tanks had crossed the border. It has criticized Ukrainian forces for cracking down on the pro-Russian rebels.

As the violence continues, Moscow’s decision to cut off gas supplies complicates the task for Poroshenko as he tries to contain the conflict in eastern Ukraine, negotiate with Russia and manage relations with his allies in the West. Ukraine’s Prime Minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, said Russia’s move was “not about gas” but “a general plan for the destruction of Ukraine.” Hours after halting deliveries to Ukraine, Gazprom said it also saw “not insignificant risks” to the gas it supplies to Europe via pipelines that run through the country.

In a bid to resolve the ongoing crisis, Poroshenko on June 18 proposed a unilateral cease-fire, saying he hoped it would pave the way for a broader peace plan. The proposal followed a phone conversation between Poroshenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin. But it was unclear if the cease-fire would be supported by the rebels inside Ukraine. Putin says he has no control over them, while some separatist leaders have cast doubt on Poroshenko’s motives, leaving the door open to yet more violence in the restive region.