Following the annexation of Crimea to Russia, leading newspapers around the world have put on hold the civil war in Syria, the trouble in Egypt, Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya to continue focusing their attention on the tiny ‘bully’ from Moscow and his tactics of defiance of the democratically-elected leaders of Europe and the US.

Last month, the World Bank issued a warning about the economy as this could falter if Russia is hit with more drastic measures and, if the crisis in Ukraine continues to escalate, it would certainly mean bad economic news for Europe too.

The spectre of civil war in Ukraine still looms over the horizon.

Political rhetoric from the US and EU is worsening the situation which the media describes as very tense. On the other hand, the ‘bully’ from Russia can’t continue to use brute force and run roughshod over his neighbours. This self-made President of Russia cannot continue to dictate Ukraine’s future and, as President Barack Obama said, “no amount of propaganda can make right something the world knows is wrong...” referring to the annexation of Crimea.

To add insult to injury, there are now difficult negotiations going on with Russia’s Gazprom. Alexei Miller, Gazprom’s CEO, acting on the advice of Vladimir Putin, has taken a drastic decision to cancel gas discounts for Ukraine.

Physically, Ukraine still controls the gas pipelines going through Russia and can easily stop the transit if Gazprom again threatens to hike the price it charges the country.

How and when is Europe going to develop its own energy resources? Russia provides one third of the EU’s oil and gas and some 40 per cent of it is exported through Ukraine. Obama told Western leaders that Europe cannot just rely on other people’s energy...

Shall we get a move before it’s too late?