Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (2R) pose with Wulf Bernotat (R) of German EON AG, Alexei Miller (2L) of Russia's Gazprom and Juergen Hambrecht (L) of German BASF after a signing ceremony in Berlin September 8, 2005. The leaders of Russia and Germany gave their blessing on Thursday to a gas pipeline deal that cements Berlin's energy ties to Moscow but which Poland and others fear leaves them vulnerable to the whims of the Kremlin. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann AKW/CVI