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Russia 'to restore gas to Europe' Monitors key to Russian gas deal
(about 5 hours later)
Russian PM Vladimir Putin has said Moscow will resume pumping gas to Europe once independent monitors are in place to check the flow to EU markets.Russian PM Vladimir Putin has said Moscow will resume pumping gas to Europe once independent monitors are in place to check the flow to EU markets.
Ukraine, whose dispute with Russia over pricing led to the crisis, said it would guarantee transit to Europe.Ukraine, whose dispute with Russia over pricing led to the crisis, said it would guarantee transit to Europe.
The Russian announcement came after a morning of acrimonious talks in Brussels between Russian and Ukrainian gas executives and EU officials. The Czech EU presidency said monitors would check Russian gas entering and leaving Ukraine but it was unclear if a firm deal had been agreed.
The talks were aimed at ending the row that has seen supply to Europe cut off. Earlier, talks between the EU, Russian and Ukrainian officials stalled.
Ten of thousands of homes in Europe have been left with no heating, a situation which the European Commission has described as completely unacceptable.
The BBC's Dominic Hughes in Brussels says that after a morning of talks during which the war of words intensified, the two sides have been working towards a deal that could at least see supplies to Europe restored.
See map of affected areaSee map of affected area
This would not be a solution to the underlying dispute over pricing, our correspondent adds, but the EU's priority is a quick resumption of Europe's supplies. Ukraine, whose dispute with Russia over pricing led to the crisis, earlier said it would guarantee transit to Europe.
The EU presidency did not specify when the monitors would be in place or when gas supplies would resume.
"This deployment should lead to the Russian supplies of gas to EU member states being restored," the EU presidency statement said.
The talks in Brussels on Thursday were aimed at ending the row that has seen supply to Europe cut off.
Ten of thousands of homes in Europe have been left with no heating, a situation which the European Commission has described as completely unacceptable.
International monitorsInternational monitors
Mr Putin urged the EU to send monitors to Ukraine "as soon as possible", so that gas deliveries to Europe could resume. Mr Putin had urged the EU to send monitors to Ukraine "as soon as possible", so that gas deliveries to Europe could resume.
"As soon as people show up there and really sit down and start working, gas will immediately resume flowing," he told reporters at his residence outside Moscow.
Dependence on Russia for gas: 100% dependent on Russia: Latvia, Slovakia, Finland, EstoniaMore than 80% dependent: Bulgaria, Lithuania, Czech RepublicMore than 60% dependent: Greece, Austria, Hungary Source: European Council on Foreign Relations, 2006 figures The rifts behind Europe's gas rowGas cut: How Europe is copingA struggle to keep warmEurope's need for Russian gasDependence on Russia for gas: 100% dependent on Russia: Latvia, Slovakia, Finland, EstoniaMore than 80% dependent: Bulgaria, Lithuania, Czech RepublicMore than 60% dependent: Greece, Austria, Hungary Source: European Council on Foreign Relations, 2006 figures The rifts behind Europe's gas rowGas cut: How Europe is copingA struggle to keep warmEurope's need for Russian gas
Ukrainian officials say the monitors could be in place as early as Friday, after agreement was reached with EU officials. "As soon as people show up there and really sit down and start working, gas will immediately resume flowing," he told reporters at his residence outside Moscow.
Ukrainian officials say the monitors could be in place as early as Friday.
Mr Putin also said Russia was prepared to pay the market price for Ukraine's transit fee, as long as Kiev paid the market price for gas for its own use.Mr Putin also said Russia was prepared to pay the market price for Ukraine's transit fee, as long as Kiev paid the market price for gas for its own use.
However, Russian officials say they have not yet signed a deal with Ukraine.However, Russian officials say they have not yet signed a deal with Ukraine.
Oleg Dubyna, the head of Ukrainian gas company Naftogaz, said Kiev would transport Russian gas to Europe as long as Russia provided additional gas to keep the system running.Oleg Dubyna, the head of Ukrainian gas company Naftogaz, said Kiev would transport Russian gas to Europe as long as Russia provided additional gas to keep the system running.
Some EU states are getting no gas at all or have seen supplies sharply cut.Some EU states are getting no gas at all or have seen supplies sharply cut.
Ukraine denies Russian accusations that it is stealing gas passing through export pipelines on its territory.Ukraine denies Russian accusations that it is stealing gas passing through export pipelines on its territory.
Russia cut gas to Ukraine itself a week ago as the row over pricing and allegedly unpaid bills escalated.Russia cut gas to Ukraine itself a week ago as the row over pricing and allegedly unpaid bills escalated.
The EU depends on Russia for about a quarter of its total gas supplies, some 80% of which are pumped via Ukraine.The EU depends on Russia for about a quarter of its total gas supplies, some 80% of which are pumped via Ukraine.
Brussels has so far avoided taking sides in the dispute, calling only for deliveries to resume urgently, the BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse reports from Kiev.Brussels has so far avoided taking sides in the dispute, calling only for deliveries to resume urgently, the BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse reports from Kiev.
Apart from the immediate question of who is to blame, Kiev and Moscow have fundamental disagreements over how much Ukraine owes Russia for last year's gas and how much it should pay this year, our correspondent adds.Apart from the immediate question of who is to blame, Kiev and Moscow have fundamental disagreements over how much Ukraine owes Russia for last year's gas and how much it should pay this year, our correspondent adds.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Grigory Nemyria placed the blame for the row squarely at Russia's door.
"If there is something to transit of course Ukraine was committed to ensure uninterrupted transit of the Russian gas to Europe but there is no gas at all as we found out today then it speaks for itself,'' he told the BBC.
Moscow counters that Kiev is to blame, saying that Ukraine has blocked the pipelines that transport gas further west and has been syphoning off gas for its own use.
Nuclear U-turn?Nuclear U-turn?
On Wednesday, heating systems shut down in some parts of central Europe, as outdoor temperatures plunged to -10C or lower.On Wednesday, heating systems shut down in some parts of central Europe, as outdoor temperatures plunged to -10C or lower.
The list of countries that reported a total halt of Russian supplies via Ukraine included Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia, Serbia, and Austria.The list of countries that reported a total halt of Russian supplies via Ukraine included Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia, Serbia, and Austria.
HAVE YOUR SAY Another example of how easily and fast energy supplies can be disrupted for either political or economic reasons Victor Vyssotsky, Orleans, USASend us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY Another example of how easily and fast energy supplies can be disrupted for either political or economic reasons Victor Vyssotsky, Orleans, USASend us your comments
Countries in eastern and central Europe have been particularly badly affected, as they rely heavily on Russian gas supplies but don't have access to the same kind of reserves found in Germany, Italy and France.Countries in eastern and central Europe have been particularly badly affected, as they rely heavily on Russian gas supplies but don't have access to the same kind of reserves found in Germany, Italy and France.
Power stations have been told to switch to fuel oil where possible, while big industrial users have been told to prepare to limit or halt use.Power stations have been told to switch to fuel oil where possible, while big industrial users have been told to prepare to limit or halt use.
There have also been calls for Soviet-era nuclear plants to be restarted in Bulgaria and Slovakia.There have also been calls for Soviet-era nuclear plants to be restarted in Bulgaria and Slovakia.
  
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