Russia suspicious of EU-Ukraine gas "master plan" - (Reuters: Putin) UK
BRUSSELS, March 23 (Reuters) - Europe on Monday welcomed a Ukrainian "master plan" to modernise the infrastructure carrying Russian gas to the west but Moscow warned that European Union energy security was at risk if Russia was not consulted.
Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko told an investment seminar at which the plan was unveiled that it appeared to draw Ukraine legally closer to the European Union and might harm Moscow's interests.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin called the plan "unprofessional" and threatened to review ties if the EU continued to ignore Russian concerns.
Ukraine unveiled the plan to increase the capacity of its Soviet-era gas pipelines from 140 billion cubic metres (bcm) a year to 200 bcm at a cost of billions of euros, and called on European investors to help fund the project.
Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko told an investment seminar at which the plan was unveiled that it appeared to draw Ukraine legally closer to the European Union and might harm Moscow's interests.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin called the plan "unprofessional" and threatened to review ties if the EU continued to ignore Russian concerns.
Ukraine unveiled the plan to increase the capacity of its Soviet-era gas pipelines from 140 billion cubic metres (bcm) a year to 200 bcm at a cost of billions of euros, and called on European investors to help fund the project.
