Eastern Europe 'shivers' even before winter

Prague

AS winter approaches, former Soviet satellite nations from Poland to Bulgaria are watching Russia and Ukraine's stalled gas negotiations with growing trepidation. The lack of discernible progress is sending a collective shiver down the spine of eastern Europe, which retains vivid memories of Russian energy cuts during unusually cold winters in 2006 and 2009. The ensuing shortages led to shuttered factories and a return to wood for heating and cooking in rural areas.

Despite the two episodes, little has been done to diversify supplies within a region that remains highly dependent on energy delivery systems dating back to the Soviet era. "Parts of eastern Europe are still quite vulnerable this winter," said Emily Stromquist, a Eurasia analyst in London. "The problem is that until recently the relations with Russia have generally been good, so perhaps there was no feeling of urgency to build quickly."