Russia is penalizing Ukraine for gas discharges in the middle of the coldest winter, writes journalist Nina Järvenkylä.

Ukrainian Naftogaz and Russian Gazprom are again fighting for gas supplies.

Foreign Minister Soini in Ukraine: "Energy is one of the tools of political power".

Russia uses energy as a power tool. Russian energy company Gazprom has once again shut gas supplies to Ukraine and further to the Central Europe.

Instability in Ukraine is in Russia's interest. It has become clear since the Crimean occupation and the war in the Eastern Ukraine. Ukraine is wandering in a war that does not end there. It is trying to make reforms such as eradicating corruption and setting its economy to the West. Long-term energy shortages in the middle of winter do not promote these goals.

Ukrainian Ambassador Andrii Olefirov comments on Verkkouutiset that he hopes that Gazprom's unpredictability towards Ukraine would be seen as a warning sign throughout Europe, and especially in those countries that have welcomed the Nord Stream 2 project.

Olefirov has said in an interview with the Verkkouutiset that Ukraine urges all its partners to assess the true goals of Nord Stream 2 and similar projects.

In Finland, among other things, Prime Minister Juha Sipilä considers Nord Stream 2 as an economic project, not as a political influence.

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I personally felt the gas jolt in the bones three years ago. I lived in Kiev for a few months in the middle of the coldest winter. The cockpit was cold without gas storms: the windows were simple and in order to keep the heat the window frames and slits were taped. With an electric radiator we got a little extra heat to the apartment but still the apartment was as cold as the ice-cream.

In early 2015, the war in East Ukraine accelerated. In February, there was a bloody fight for Debaltseve. Russia tightened the screw, therefore, both in the war zone and in the energy sector. Russia's actions caused death, but also confusion in internal politics of Ukraine.

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Foreign Minister Timo Soini has visited Kyiv this week. He discussed, in addition to many other issues, with his Ukrainian counterpart, Pavlo Klimkin, the ongoing gas crisis.

I talked with Soini over the phone. Mr Soini stressed that the agreements that have been concluded must be upheld, including Russia. I asked Soini whether we should be concerned about the energy agreements with Russia, namely the Rosatom nuclear project and Gazprom's Nord Stream 2 project. Soini believes that Russia has been in agreement with Finland, so there should be no worry.

Nevertheless, the thing was left in the back. Russia has violated international treaties and international law in the framework of the Crimea occupation, the eastern Ukraine war, and gas agreements with Ukraine.

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Iltalehti, Nina Järvenkylä