This centainly isn't a good way to start the new year

Ukraine gas row hits EU supplies
EU nations have started to feel the impact of Russia's axeing of gas supplies to Ukraine, as Moscow accused Kiev of stealing EU supplies.
Hungary and Poland were the first EU states to have supplies disrupted.
Russia's state-run firm Gazprom cut Ukrainian supplies from the pipelines on Sunday after talks failed to solve a politically-charged price row.

BBC Report

From Jack Wheeler, more on the Russia-Ukraine story...

"80% of Gazprom’s natural gas exports to Europe go through Ukraine. That’s a full half of all natural gas used by the entire European Union. So what if Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko tells Russia: If Gazprom shuts down its pipeline of gas to Ukraine, Ukraine will shut down all Gazprom pipelines to Europe?

To add to this sure-fire recipe for war, the Russian Navy’s Black Sea Fleet (the only navy it has during the winter as other ports are frozen) is based in Sevastopol on the Crimean Peninsula – which is a part of Ukraine, not Russia.

Yushchenko has responded to the Russia-Gazprom threat by not only claiming Ukraine has an “unquestionable legal right” to siphon off 15% of all Russian gas that goes through Ukrainian pipelines as a transit fee, but that he will also drastically increase the annual rent (currently $98 million) Russia pays for the Sevastopol naval base.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, reportedly being groomed as Putin’s successor, shot back that any attempt to revise the basing arrangement would have “fatal” consequences, and that any attempt to siphon off gas for Europe would be regarded as “theft.” The “fatal” consequences, Ivanov bellowed, would be Russia’s no longer recognizing Ukraine’s post-Soviet border with Russia.

In other words, the Russian Defense Minister was threatening the military invasion of Ukraine.

The timing of the gas increase and Russian Bear threats have a political purpose: forcing Yushchenko to capitulate will result in a massive rejection of his party in the March parliamentary elections, returning pro-Russia politicians to power.

The hope is that Yushchenko will not capitulate but rejoice at Russia’s giving him such a marvelous political gift on a platinum platter. Anti-Russian demonstrations in front of the Russian Embassy in Kiev have already started. The rage can build and be directed at Yushchenko’s pro-Russian opponents. All Viktor has to do is stand up to Russia – and make sure that NATO stands behind him."

The next war in Europe? I tend to doubt it, but look for things to get very, very tense before this is over.