Russia, EU reach deal on resuming gas supplies to Europe
10 Jan 2009
State-run Russian energy firm Gazprom will resume gas deliveries to Europe under a deal signed by Russian and European Union officials.
Under the deal, Russian and EU officials will jointly monitor gas shipments through Ukraine. Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Timoshenko also is reported to have agreed to abide by the new regime once the agreement was signed.
The deal was approved by EU and Russia following talks between Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin and and visiting Czech prime minister Mirek Topolanek, who is the current president of the EU.
The agreement, however, has to be signed by Ukraine as well to be effective.
Russia has insisted on posting observers at Ukrainian transit points accusing that country of stealing Russian gas intended for Europe. Ukraine has denied this.
European homes have virtually run out of heating energy after gas shipments via Ukraine halted on Wednesday. Even if the deal goes through, it will take till Monday before gas supplies can be resumed.
Putin also insists that a written agreement is necessary to control the flow of gas to Europe.
Russia and Ukraine, who are locked in a dispute over gas prices and transit fees, however, had guaranteed uninterrupted supplies to Europe despite their mutual feud.