If the aggressions of Russia continues; the Ukraine, post soviet states and Europe would be forced to seek other forms of energy anyway. I think this was a wake call in more ways than one.

Europe and the post soviet states have been good customers. How does Gasprom replace that level of customer sales without them? New customers? Where? The pipelines run west, not east. It seems fairly obvious Gasprom cannot do without it's customers. The higher the price, the more reason to look elsewhere.

West threatens Russia with sanctions over Crimea vote

Gazprom's shares down 1.1 pct, bucking a rising broader Moscow market

European companies voiced support to deals with Gazprom

Mon Mar 17, 2014 7:23pm IST

MOSCOW, March 17 (Reuters) - Russia's top natural gas producer Gazprom (click here) is considering making changes to contracts to keep its European customers on board despite western sanctions on Russia over Ukraine, the Vedomosti newspaper said on Monday.

Citing a source close to Gazprom, the daily said the company might be willing to change its "take-or-pay" requirements, which make consumers pay for gas whether they take physical delivery or not. It did not give further details.