Russia supplies to south-east Europe halted

By Anna Mudeva

SOFIA (Reuters) - All supplies of Russian gas via Ukraine to Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece and Macedonia were halted on Tuesday due to a dispute between Moscow and Kiev over gas prices, officials in Sofia said.

Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Guler confirmed that supplies to his country from a western pipeline passing through Ukraine had been completely cut.

Also affected was Romania where Russian gas supplies were reduced by 75 percent from contracted levels, the state-controlled Transgaz pipeline operator said.

"We are in a crisis situation," Bulgaria's economy ministry said in a statement.

Russia ordered Monday a reduction in gas flow to Europe via Ukraine, a measure it said was to stop its neighbour from stealing fuel. Ukraine said the move would jeopardise supplies to Europe which is facing freezing temperatures.

The gas row has raised new questions about Russia's reliability as an energy supplier and rekindled Western suspicions -- still fresh after Russia's war with Georgia last year -- that the Kremlin bullies its pro-Western neighbours.

"Russia and Ukraine must find an urgent solution because the energy systems of dozens of countries are at risk," Economy and Energy Minister Petar Dimitrov told national radio.

Sofia said the gas flow to Bulgaria as well as the transit to Turkey, Greece and Macedonia had been suspended as of 3.30 a.m. (0130 GMT).