Russia Stepped On Ukraine's Throat

Russia's natural gas giant Gazprom said on Sunday it may take Ukraine to an international court if the latter takes without permission natural gas for Europe from a pipeline running through its territory, Gazprom's deputy chairman Alexander Medvedev said.

He said that the company will go to the Stockholm International Court of Arbitration, which acts as a neutral body for resolving East-West trade disputes, in the case of unsanctioned picking of gas.

Ukraine buys Russian gas at a discounted price of $50 per 1,000 cubic meters, but Russia has asked Ukraine to pay more than quadruple the current price and offered cash payments for gastransit.