indira lakshmanan is in washington with more on this story.what can we ask -- what can we make a these remarks? >> was talking about p -- what was striking about putin's letter was that he was actually threatened to cut off gas to ukraine. he says ukraine owes us $2.2 billion over the last 4 years in unpaid tax bills. on top of having cut off the subsidies for the gas to ukraine, he says we are not going to keep giving them aghast until you figure out a way to support their economy. it should not just be us, russia come subsidizing and supporting them. it is not a direct threat to the ee itself yet. although the eu gets 13% of its gas supplies from russia through the ukraine, there are alternatives -- alternative ways to get that gas, particularly through the lovers. we did see market -- particularly through belarus. we did see markets move a bit on this news but some traders that they were grateful because gas the price in europe are high and it is not the same as the threat coming in the winter. importantly, the european -- the german financ

let's again with indira lakshmanan. she has details on voting in afghanistan and more unrest in ukraine. indira, good afternoon. >> good afternoon, mark. >> is what we are seeing in eastern ukraine a repeat of what happened in crimea? >> it's how it initially looks. what happened in crimea began --h her russian separatists pro-russian separatists storming government buildings. we have seen that happen in the 3 major cities in eastern ukraine. we have seen protesters try to take over government buildings, we have seen roads shut down by authorities, and even some injuries. there are concerns about the are where the rebels believed to be armed, having taken over an arsenal. on one hand we see parallel sprint on the other hand we have russia saying we haven't stoked this, this is about ukrainian government street -- mistreating russian speaking minorities and it underscores that you need to do more for these minorities. not surprisingly we have the saying it is kiev absolute nonsense, and the acting prime minister has of tr

indira vering the week, lakshmanan of bloomberg news. doyle mcmanus of the "los angeles times". joan biskupic of reuters. carrie johnson of npr. and ard winning reporting analysis covering history as it happens. capital.m our nation's this is "washington week" with gwen ifill. corporate funding for "washington week" is provided by. it is one of the most amazing things we bid and it doesn't -- doesn't even fly. we build it in classrooms and exhibit halls, mentoring innovators. we build it raising roofs, and serving bitats america's veterans. phone ay thousands of volunteers help make their communities the best they can be better for ething all of us. >> additional corporate funding for "washington week" is prudential. brigham & women's hospital. funding is provided by the annenberg foundation, the public ion for broadcasting, and by contributions to pbs stakeses viewers like you. thank you. >> once again, live from washington, moderator gwen ifill. gwen: good evening. tothe third time is supposed be the charm president obama's sia trip was designed to keep some long overdue twice