ABSTRACT
From the very beginning of January 2006, when Russia became the G8 Chair, accompanied by noisy disputes about price increases for Russian gas to Ukraine, energy security was clearly the issue of the year. Nobody blamed Ukrainian leaders, who allowed unsanctioned gas extraction from the main gas pipeline. Meanwhile, Ukraine, unlike countries in the European Union (EU), was able to buy Russian gas for a price two or three times lower than the world price. The US Administration wanted to stimulate the implantation of Western values in Ukraine, Georgia or Moldavia, it should subsidize their economy and cover their energy bills. To demand from Russia that it should subsidize openly anti-Russian policy is already cynical. As the St. Petersburg Summit approached, tensions around the energy problem continued to grow. Some US senators stood for expulsion of Russia from the G8, and recommended that President George W. Bush refuse to participate in the summit.
