Cold Winter Drained Europe's Gas Reserves, Helping to Cause Current Crisis, Putin Says

Natural gas prices in Europe continue their upward climb, with futures approaching $2,000 per 1,000 cubic meters in Wednesday trading. Shortages of the blue fuel have been blamed on a number of factors, ranging from cold weather to competition for supplies with Asia, as well as a premature attempt to switch to 'green' alternative sources of energy.