RUSSIAN THREAT TO STOP GAS : Putin's chokehold on Ukraine-EU

MOSCOW - Russia could cut off supplies to neighbouring Ukraine by the end of the week if it does not get further payments from Kiev , state-owned gas company Gazprom said Thursday. Spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov said in televised remarks that " if no new funds are received from Kiev, then naturally we cannot continue delivering gas to Ukraine " He did not specify the sum.

Despite the threat, Russian & Ukrainian energy ministers are set to meet in Brussels on Monday, making an immediate cutoff unlikely. Gazprom's ultimatum came a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement that Ukraine's latest payment would only be good for " another three to four days." Putin warned that Russia would turn off the tap if Ukraine fails to remit payment quickly, but did not set a concrete deadline for the halting of deliveries.

NEWS REPORT : Associated Press

PROPHECY INSIGHTS - The latest gas dispute erupted last week. Basically Ukraine cut gas supplies to areas in the east controlled by Russia-backed rebels. Russia then began pumping gas directly to the east, saying they should be counted as part of the overall volume of its gas exports. On Wednesday Putin angrily denounced Ukraine's decision to halt gas supplies to eastern regions, home to 4.5 million people, saying it "smacks of genocide.”

Putin and other government officials warned earlier this week that Russia would cut off supplies to Ukraine by the end of the month unless Kiev makes the due pre-payments. So even with a shaky ceasefire now in place the troubles continue. Putin is the little horn that grows in Daniel 8. H e is the fierce king. The arrogant master of deception. The one who has become very strong and who succeeds in all he does. He thinks he is invincible. But God will bring him to an end on the mountains of Israel.

DANIEL 8 v 23-25 (NLT) - . . . a fierce king , a master of intrigue , will rise to power. He will become very strong , but not by his own power. He will cause a shocking amount of destruction and succeed in everything he does. He will destroy powerful leaders and devastate the holy people. He will be a master of deception and will become arrogant ; he will destroy many without warning.

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