Ukraine says no to PR help

by Matt Cartmell, PR Week UK 07-Jan-09, 17:06

Ukraine is refusing offers of PR support during the escalating disagreement with Russia over gas supplies, it emerged this week.

As PRWeek went to press, exports of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine appeared to have completely stopped amid a dispute between the two countries.

But while Russia is said to be spending ‘phenomenal’ amounts on PR in the West, Ukraine has concentrated on regular contact between its officials and their European counterparts.

One senior PR source commented: ‘No-one is working for the Ukraine at the moment. I suspect they think that the balance of opinion is on their side in any case. The Russians got a bit burnt in the summer [over the conflict with Georgia] and they need to be conscious of the West. The amount of money they spend on PR is phenomenal.’

Russia and its gas monopoly Gazprom use three Omnicom agencies– Ketchum, GPlus Europe, and Gavin Anderson.

Gavin Anderson UK CEO Ken Cronin said: ‘We have been helping Gazprom to communicate with the international media, investors and international governments.’