Seasonal show

Russia and Ukraine have once again taken to the stage for their annual drama, The Big Gas Row. Gazprom, Russia’s state-owned monopoly, has cut gas supplies to Ukraine because it hasn’t been paid in full for past deliveries. These delays prevented a new contract being signed in time for the new year. Both countries are in the throes of the financial crisis. Ukraine asked the International Monetary Fund for help in October, Russia is hit by falling energy prices, and Gazprom is hard-pressed to m...