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Excerpts from the JRL E-Mail Community :: Founded and Edited by David Johnson
#3 - JRL 2006-129 - JRL Home
Russia's Putin Refuses To Subsidize Political Transformation in Ukraine

NOVO-OGARYOVO. June 2 (Interfax) - Russia is not going to subsidize the political transformation under way in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

"Our Western friends very actively supported the orange events in Ukraine, and we can perfectly see what has been happening there all this time," Putin said at a meeting with the heads of the leading news agencies from the G8 countries on Friday evening.

"If you want to support everything that is happening there, you pay for it. Why should we do that?" Putin said.

Russia has been supplying energy resources to the West promptly and flawlessly for forty years, Putin said.

"As to the fact that the transiting country - Ukraine - siphoned off significant amounts of European resources, questions on this account should be put to Ukraine, not to us," he said.

Talking about the increase in energy prices for Ukraine, Putin said Russia has been subsidizing Ukraine in the amount of $3.5 billion annually over the past 15 years. "Each year we raised the question of switching to the European method of pricing," he said.

"Why should German consumers pay $250 per 1,000 cubic meters (of gas) and Ukrainians $50? But if you want to present such a gift to Ukraine - pay for it," Putin said addressing the head of a German news agency, who asked a question about Russia's energy dealings with its foreign partners.

"Why do you want us to make such gifts? Take those $3.5 billion out of the pockets of German taxpayers and explain to them why this is appropriate - we won't have anything against this, just pay the money," Putin said.