Mediaboss Marketing

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia Slovakia says it has seen a 50 percent drop in Russiangassupplies in the past day.

Prime Minister Robert Fico says the nationalgascompany, SPP, wouldn't restrictgassupplies domestically. He told reporters Wednesday the government would hold a crisis meeting if the trend continues, adding the Russians blame technical problems.

"The Russian side talks about technical problems, about the necessity of filling up storage for the winter season," Mr. Fico said, according to Reuters. "I have used this expression and I will use it again: gas has become a tool in a political fight."

Russia's state-owned gas company Gazprom has not yet commented on the reported drop.

Slovakia, Poland and other East European countries have reported similar drops in Russiangasflows in recent weeks. So far, they have proved temporary.

Slovakia, which is almost entirely dependent on Russiangas, was among the nations hit hardest byRussia's2009 cutoff ofgas travelling through Ukraine to Europe. Now, it can get supplies from the West if needed.

Slovakia also deliversgasback to Ukraine and Fico said his country is ready to meet its commitments.

Concerns about another gas disruption have sent energy prices upward in Europe.Central European spot gas markets rose to over $31.52 per megawatt-hours, according to Reuters. That's their highest levels since the Ukraine crisis broke out in February/March.

Late last week, Russia, Ukraine, and the EU appeared close to a deal to resume gas supplies to Ukraine, which have been cut off since June. Those talks are expected to continue this week, although analysts are skeptical the three sides will reach any longterm agreement.

"There is no final compromise yet," Andriy Kobolyev, chief executive of Ukraine's state-owned gas company Naftogaz said in an interview Monday, according to a press release from the company."There is only a proposal of the EU Commission for a solution, which needs to be discussed and approved by the governments of both countries."

The rest is here:
Ukraine crisis: Slovakia says Russian gas supply drops by half