This is not the first time that a feud between Russia and Ukraine on gas supplies has threatened the energy security of Europe. While a similar dispute between Russia and Ukraine had begot a similar situation in Europe in 2006, it is more dire this time around. Temperatures have dipped all over Europe as a harsh winter wave continues.
The impasse between Russia and Ukraine should be solved within the next few days – it does not benefit either country to continue the energy crisis in Europe as that will worsen its relationship with the EU. But even this short deadlock has been painful for Europe as it is dependent on gas supplies from Russia for heating and other purposes. Central and Southern Europe has been the worse affected up till now, but it is possible that the crisis will spread as afar West as Germany and France. For instance, Slovakia which gets all its energy supply from Russia declared a state of energy emergency as temperatures in the capital slipped it as low as -5C. Bulgaria and the Balkan states, which are among the poorest nations in Europe also have to resort to similar drastic measures.
The EU should treat this crisis as a wake-up call. Even after the resolution of this current stalemate, there is no guarantee that a similar situation will not arise again next year. Or in a couple of years. EU needs to heed this as a warning sign to increase its commitment to building green energy in its member nations. The only viable long-term solution to EU's energy dependency on Russia and other players is to reduce it. And the surest way of doing that is to invest in green energy and energy efficiency. This will cut down on EU's vulnerability to the political games between Russia and her neighbors, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enable EU to meet its Kyoto targets and be beneficial to the environment.
It however remains to be seen what lesson the EU learns from this latest standoff between its main gas supplier (Russia) and main transit nation for the gas supplies (Ukraine).
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