The New Year heralded in record cold temperatures across Europe and the all-too-familiar sounds of another gas-fueled conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Russia cut gas flows to Ukraine on January 1 after political tension caused annual gas price negotiations between the two countries to fall apart. Five days later, amid mutual accusations, Russia stopped the flow of gas to Europe, leaving a number of Eastern European nations with scarce supplies. Despite threats and pleas from the European Union (EU), only on January 19 did the two countries arrive at an agreement. The agreement differs little from the "Memorandum of Agreement" on gas prices reached between Prime Ministers Vladimir Putin and Yulia Tymoshenko in October 2008. Problems persist though supplies to the EU have been restored and Russia and Ukraine have agreed on gas prices and transit fees. Russia and Ukraine have damaged their reputations as responsible international actors and international trade partners, and the EU's unity and political will have been weakened by the futility of its efforts.

Can future gas wars between Russia and Ukraine be prevented? What steps should be taken by the EU, Russia, and Ukraine to ensure that political disputes do not have commercial repercussions--and will the parties find the will to take such steps when some of them could be politically unpopular at home? At this AEI event, a group of leading experts on European, Russian, and Ukrainian energy politics will discuss these and other questions.