Another time energy has become a cornerstone in Ukraine-Russia-EU trilateral relations. And another time all of the guilt is shifted on Ukraine. Thus Ukraine is blamed for what has never been and will never be. «Transit of natural gas via Ukraine to Europe under threat» – this is the main message of Russia for Europe. 
The situation around Ukrainian gas debt to Russia gave rise to this message. But Ukraine has never disrupted supplies of Russian gas to the European , moreover it has never siphoned off supplies meant for European customers to meet its own needs. Ukraine has always met its obligations within the existing contracts. Moreover, Ukraine, under constant pressure of Russian energy hawks, always gives the helping hand to its eastern neighbor but to Europe as well. The difficult situation with gas supplies in January of 2012 when the strongest frosts forced Moscow to decrease the gas flow to Europe can become the most vivid example of this help. In order to save its reputation Kremlin accused Ukraine of stealing gas and causing damage to Russian public image. But exactly at that moment Ukraine offered help and provided gas for Europe from its underground gas storage facilities. Therefore all of are appealed to international courts.
The price hike for Ukraine not economically grounded, but politically motivated. The gas price for Ukraine now — the highest in Europe despite the absence of transit countries between Ukraine and Russia. The permanent pressure on Ukraine in energy sphere – is the basic argument of Russian policy in European Union.
If Europe has a great potential to maneuver at the gas market and has some influence levers on Russia, Ukraine does not have such privileges. But Ukraine has a chance to get rid of the Russian gas monopolist by diversifying gas supplies from Europe. And Europe must help Ukraine. The European Commission must a political decision and increase the reverse gas flow from Europe to Ukraine, even if it causes some losses in economic interests. It is also necessary to influence Slovakian authorities in order to accelerate the realization of reverse flow projects. This must be done as soon as possible, as Ukrainian sagging economy is highly dependent on ga? price. Slovakian Prime-minister Robert Fico lobbies interests of Moscow and constantly tries to bring over the representatives of Russia to the negotiations, but it’s nothing but of Russian interests, not ones’ of Ukraine and EU.
Efforts of Russia to energy supplies to influence a decision-making process of independent states must be punished. Absence of adequate will only increase aggression from the Russian side. Impunity of Kremlin will enable him to spread its aggression farther and that will result in fallouts. Realization of Russian gas-transport projects «will make Europe Russia-dependent», to be more exact dependent on one person – V.Putin. Therefore we must give up a project «The South stream» and not only on paper.