Putin sends a shiver through Europe

Putin continues to manage things in the style he no doubt developed to lead him to be head of the old Soviet KGB in days gone, but not forgotten in mittel-Europa.

Russia took Europe to the brink of a winter energy crisis yesterday when it carried out a Cold War-style threat and halted gas deliveries to Ukraine, the main conduit for exports to the West. With a quarter of its gas supplied by Russia, Europe is facing serious disruption and price rises for as long as the dispute rumbles on.

Now THAT’s international economic cooperation…and this guy is the current Chairman og the G8 Group? Time for a major reality check!