Baltic blackmail?

Before attending a summit with EU leaders, Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters that the Baltic pipeline - a gas pipeline running from Russia under the Baltic Sea directly to Germany - would not threaten the energy security of any of the EU's members.

"It is obvious that this project will enhance Europe's energy security because it diversifies energy sources and makes the final product cheaper," said Putin.

Russia and Germany signed a deal last month to build the Baltic pipeline. The Polish government has protested against it, arguing that Moscow would have a free hand to exert political pressure on Poland. Warsaw now uses its control over pipelines currently running from Russia to Germany through its territory to balance its dependence on Russian energy, which accounts for some 95 percent of the crude oil and 63 percent of the natural gas flowing into Poland. With Russian energy making up an ever larger slice of the EU's supplies - about half of the EU's gas and one third its oil comes from or via Russia - other EU members are also jittery that Russia might use this advantage to its political gain. When asked if Europe was safe from Russian blackmail over gas supplies, Putin said: "We are not going to harm anyone."

Putin's overtures have failed to convince leaders of the incoming government. PiS' Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz said that before any further talks on the pipeline are held, the EU ought to take a common position on the project.

"First, the question should be examined from all sides and the EU should take a common position," he said. "The second step would of course be talks with Russia." (Reuters)