Gas shortage would be eased with better relations, Russian ambassador tells EU

A top Russian official suggested that better diplomatic treatment of Russia by the European Union would insulate EU members from energy shortages like they are experiencing now, indicating that Russia, already responsible for a significant share of the EU’s gas imports, is looking to gain further advantage from Europe’s vulnerabilities. Russian EU ambassador Vladimir Chizhov said the bloc, which last week saw what amounted to a nearly tenfold increase in spot gas prices since the beginning of the year, would be in a better position to remedy price hikes were it more amicable to its major natural gas-exporting neighbor…. (Excerpts from the Washington Examiner)