Moscow cuts coal to Kiev

“In these 50 days, we will definitely be able to find a solution to the coal supply issue, including shipments from South Africa and from other suppliers”, he added. “Russia will be blocking coal supplies, and it was brought to our attention three months ago”.

Ukraine on Friday accused Russian Federation of reducing its coal deliveries to Kiev in a move that could further ratchet up tensions with Moscow.

Demchyshyn said Ukraine had enough reserves to last through the winter.

Russian Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak said on November 24 that Russia might cut coal supplies to punish Ukraine for what he said was its deliberate refusal to help rebuild power lines to Crimea that were blown up by unknown saboteurs.

Ukraine’s Interior Minister Arsen Avakov had earlier called on the country’s national security council to annul contracts for power supply to Crimea in response to Russian threats of a ban on Ukrainian food imports from January 1, which has now been signed into law, RIA Novosti wrote Monday. Minor fix work has been carried out on the sabotaged pylons and power lines in southern Ukraine which supply Crimea, but none of the four pylons which were destroyed are operational.

Ukraine depends on coal to fulfill around 44 percent of its power needs. Nuclear energy makes up about the same proportion, with the rest of its needs met by renewable sources. “Russia’s goal is to completely destabilize the situation in Ukraine”, he said.