WSJ: Gazprom’s Pipeline Move Meets With Disbelief

It was a surprisingly speedy move for Russia’s usually lumbering gas giant: Less than 48 hours after President Vladimir Putin instructed OAO Gazprom to revive expansion plans for a pipeline from Siberia to Europe, the company on Friday unveiled a deal with Poland on the $5 billion project.

But there was a catch. Poland’s prime minister took even less time to say he didn’t know anything about the supposed agreement.

The day’s contretemps highlights how business and politics are never far apart when it comes to Russian supplies of gas to Europe, and sometimes make for a confusing mix.  MORE