The BBC is reporting this case of Russia apparently trying to strong-arm Ukraine into accepting much higher gas prices than other customers of Gazprom.

Ukraine insists that the planned price rise is politically motivated, in the wake of Kiev’s Orange Revolution and the election of its pro-Western President, Viktor Yushchenko.Other countries which remain in Russia’s sphere of influence continue to receive gas at below-market prices.

Europe worries that this will also affect Russian gas exports to it as they go via Ukraine, but Gazprom say it won’t.