Russian gas crisis spreads to Greece and Bulgaria

EUROPEAN UNION officials met for crisis talks in Brussels today as the gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine spilled over into Europe.

EU countries including Greece and Bulgaria today reported a drop in supplies after Russia cut off gas to Ukraine on New Year's Day over unpaid bills and a new price contract. Officials in Croatia, a candidate for European membership, also reported that supplies were dramatically down this morning.

Gas flows to Greece were slashed by a third, while Bulgaria suffered a 15 per cent drop in supply as the crisis threatened to spread farther across Europe. Poland, Hungary and Romania also said their supplies were hit.

Today's meeting will assess the impact of shortages as winter bites, and "to consider what any next steps", an EU official said.

Russian gas giant Gazprom accuses Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, of stealing gas meant for EU customers. Pipes across Ukraine carry about a fifth of the EU's gas needs.

The EU has despatched experts to Kiev on a fact-finding mission after Gazprom said it could no longer count on Ukraine as a transit route to EU countries. The Ukrainians say the pipeline network is not working properly after Moscow cut supplies.

None of the countries hit today reported consumers suffering supply cuts. Many EU countries, and Ukraine, have built up reserves since a similar dispute between Gazprom and Ukraine in 2006.

Washington has called on Russia to consider the humanitarian implications of disrupting gas supplies in winter to countries facing freezing conditions.