Russia cuts off gas supplies to Ukraine over unpaid bills

Russia has cut off gas supplies to Ukraine in a dispute over unpaid bills that could disrupt supplies to the rest of Europe and set back hopes for peace.

After weekend violence that included the loss of 49 troops in the downing of a Ukrainian plane, Russia said Kiev missed a deadline for a $1.95bn (€1.43bn) debt payment and it would now only get gas it has paid for in advance. It insisted Ukraine must also ensure it lets Russian gas flow through international pipelines to its clients in the European Union.

Kiev and Moscow blamed each other for the failure to agree overnight on the price of future gas deliveries and refused to abandon well-established positions: Russia offering a discount and Ukraine rejecting that as a tool for political manipulation.