Vladimir Putin has unveiled a triple whammy of threats and provocation for Britain and the West.
After a year of difficult relations between the Kremlin and Downing Street, the Russian prime minister showed he was prepared to keep up the pressure on his country's former Cold War foes.
In moves certain to further undermine diplomatic ties with London and Washington, Mr Putin:
Warned that Britain faced winter gas shortages if supplies from Russia were disrupted because of his bitter dispute with Ukraine;
Threatened to supply surface-to-air missiles to Iran, despite Western concerns over its nuclear ambitions; and
Lined himself up to be appointed president for a third term after Moscow's parliament rubber stamped constitutional changes overturning a law that only allowed two four-year periods as leader.
The news came as protesters angered by rises in car import tariffs were clubbed by riot police to discourage internal dissent against Kremlin policies as the economic crisis led to increasing hardship.
Mr Putin made it clear that he was ready to hit British and European gas consumers during the winter as part of his feud over unpaid debts and price rises with Ukraine, Russia's pro-Western neighbour.
Many EU countries have become dependent on Russia's gas pipeline, which crosses Ukraine.
The Kremlin has previously switched off supplies to the country, which has a knock-on impact on the amount of gas able to reach Western Europe.
Western nations will react with dismay to another breach of Russia's pledge to be a reliable energy supplier to its customers.
Deputy premier Viktor Zubkov, a close ally of Putin's, warned that he could not rule out 'disruption of supply stability to Europe' during the rest of the winter.
'No solution has been found because of the non- constructive position of the Ukrainian side,' he said. He claimed Ukraine had been given loans by the International Monetary Fund that should have been used to pay off debts to Russia for supplying gas, therefore guaranteeing supplies to the West.
Ukraine claimed Moscow was playing politics, and said it would do nothing to disrupt supplies to Britain and the rest of the EU.
In another move of deep concern to the West, Russia admitted it was supplying surface-to-air missiles to Tehran.
Russia's state arms export agency confirmed the supply, but did not say whether they included sophisticated long-range S-300s.
Iranian media has reported that Russia had begun supplying S-300s, a possibility Israel and the United States had opposed.
Supplying the advanced missile systems to Iran would change the military balance in the Middle East. The issue has been the subject of intense speculation and diplomatic wrangling for months.
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Last Edited by LJS on 11/20/2012 06:38 PM
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