WSJ: Ukraine Rebels Threaten Europe's Energy Security, Says Czech PM

Rebels holding territory with natural-gas pipelines in eastern Ukraine are creating additional risks to the energy security of Central Europe, the Czech prime minister said on Thursday, as he urged the European Union to finance and develop infrastructure needed to lessen the bloc’s energy reliance on Russia.

Gas bound for the EU could be withdrawn illegally from pipelines in such territories by rebel groups, leaving European customers in the lurch, Bohuslav Sobotka said at a gas-supply conference in the Czech capital, Prague.

Mr. Sobotka said that Central European governments should jointly increase pressure on Brussels to build new supply routes that would provide entry points for alternate energy suppliers to the bloc.  MORE