This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7820315.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Russia-Ukraine gas deal unsigned | |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Progress on a deal to restore flows of Russian natural gas via Ukraine has been held up as both countries traded accusations amid an ongoing dispute. | |
| EU monitors arrived in Ukraine on Friday to check pipelines from Russia, raising hopes that flows might resume. | |
| But Russia said it would only restart pumping gas once a final, written deal was signed. | |
| Hundreds of thousands of homes in Europe remain without heating amid plunging temperatures. | |
| Earlier, Russia had said shipments would resume when Russian, Ukrainian and EU monitors started work. | |
| 'Humiliating' | |
| Officials meeting in Kiev said an agreement could be finalised soon, but recriminations continued late on Friday over Russian charges that Ukraine had been stealing gas. | |
| name="top"> "Our goal is to show who is to blame for stealing gas," Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said. "Such thievery can't be left unaccountable." class="bodl" href="#map">See map of affected area | |
| Mr Medvedev also accused Ukrainian authorities of corruption. "The money from these deals was probably used for political aims or to solve personal problems," he said. | |
| But Ukraine's president and prime minister both repeated denials that Ukraine had stolen gas. | |
| "Those statements that have in recent days been heard from the mouth of the Russian leadership - they are incorrrect, they humiliate Ukraine," said President Viktor Yushchenko. | |
| Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, representing the EU in Kiev, said after talks that "some technical details remain to be fine-tuned". | |
| Even when gas supplies are restored, it may still take several days for the gas to reach some areas, an EU spokesman said. | |
| Putin promise | |
| More than 15 countries have been hit by the shutdown of Russian supplies. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | |
| Serbia and Bosnia-Hercegovina are among the worst hit, as many homes there rely on communal heating stations that only run on gas. | |
| Bulgaria, which gets nearly all its gas supplies from Russia via Ukraine, has imposed gas rationing and has closed schools. | Bulgaria, which gets nearly all its gas supplies from Russia via Ukraine, has imposed gas rationing and has closed schools. |
| The EU said the first of its monitors arrived in Kiev on Friday lunchtime. They were expected to start touring gas pumping stations later. | The EU said the first of its monitors arrived in Kiev on Friday lunchtime. They were expected to start touring gas pumping stations later. |
| A major stumbling block was removed earlier when Ukraine agreed to accept Russian experts as part of the monitoring mission. | A major stumbling block was removed earlier when Ukraine agreed to accept Russian experts as part of the monitoring mission. |
| Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has also promised that EU monitors can go anywhere in Russia to verify gas flows, said Mr Topolanek. | |
| The head of Russia's state-controlled gas monopoly Gazprom, Alexei Miller, said Ukraine had given verbal agreement over the monitors. | |
| "As soon as the document has been signed... and observers are ready for practical work on the gas stations, transit of gas via Ukraine will be possible," he said in a statement. | |
| Price row remains | Price row remains |
| An estimated 100,000 people in Serbia were left without heating when Russian gas supplies to Europe were halted on Wednesday, the BBC's Helen Fawkes in Belgrade said. | An estimated 100,000 people in Serbia were left without heating when Russian gas supplies to Europe were halted on Wednesday, the BBC's Helen Fawkes in Belgrade said. |
| With sub-zero temperatures across the country, at least eight towns and cities were completely cut off. 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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7820252.stm">Political fallout in chilly Bulgaria class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7817536.stm">The rifts behind Europe's gas row class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5889&edition=2">Send us your comments class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7817780.stm">A struggle to keep warm | |
| Most of its gas-powered heating stations have switched to alternative energy but some can only operate on gas and have had to shut down completely, our correspondent adds. | Most of its gas-powered heating stations have switched to alternative energy but some can only operate on gas and have had to shut down completely, our correspondent adds. |
| It has also received emergency gas from Hungary and Germany. | It has also received emergency gas from Hungary and Germany. |
| In neighbouring Bosnia, some 72,000 homes were without heating in temperatures as low as -15C. Leaders warned its gas reserves would last only a few more days. | In neighbouring Bosnia, some 72,000 homes were without heating in temperatures as low as -15C. Leaders warned its gas reserves would last only a few more days. |
| Angry Bulgarians protested in front of the Ukrainian embassy in Sofia on Thursday, holding placards accusing Russia and Ukraine of being "gas terrorists", the Associated Press reports. | Angry Bulgarians protested in front of the Ukrainian embassy in Sofia on Thursday, holding placards accusing Russia and Ukraine of being "gas terrorists", the Associated Press reports. |
| Other countries reporting a total halt in gas supplies included Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia and Austria. | Other countries reporting a total halt in gas supplies included Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia and Austria. |
| 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. |
| Russia cut gas to Ukraine itself a week ago, in the wake of a row over unpaid bills and the expiry of a supply contract. | Russia cut gas to Ukraine itself a week ago, in the wake of a row over unpaid bills and the expiry of a supply contract. |
| But although both countries guaranteed that transit supplies to Europe would be unaffected, they were soon cut off amid mutual accusations between Kiev and Moscow. | But although both countries guaranteed that transit supplies to Europe would be unaffected, they were soon cut off amid mutual accusations between Kiev and Moscow. |
| That acrimonious disagreement over gas prices remains, which leaves the crisis far from settled, the BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in Kiev says. | |
| Back to top | Back to top |