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EU bidding to resolve gas dispute EU bidding to resolve gas dispute
(about 1 hour later)
The head of the EU mediation team is due to hold talks with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to help reach a deal to resume gas supplies to Europe. The head of the EU mediation team is in Moscow for talks with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to help reach a deal to resume gas supplies to Europe.
Czech prime minister Mirek Topolanek, whose country holds the EU presidency, will travel to Moscow after talks with Ukrainian leaders on Friday Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, whose country holds the EU presidency, said the deal still needed "fine-tuning" after talks in Kiev yesterday.
Hundreds of thousands of European homes have no heating as the row continues.
Supplies of Russian natural gas via Ukraine have not resumed, despite the arrival of EU monitors in Ukraine.Supplies of Russian natural gas via Ukraine have not resumed, despite the arrival of EU monitors in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of homes in Europe remain without heating. name="top"> The last thing that is needed before gas starts flowing is for all parties to sign a final written agreement, says the BBC's Rupert Wingfield Hayes in Moscow. class="bodl" href="#map">See map of affected area
Russia had said shipments of gas to Europe via Ukraine would resume when a team of Russian, Ukrainian and EU monitors started work in Kiev. But Russia said it required a final written agreement to resume pumping.
Russia cut off supplies following a dispute with Ukraine over transit fees, and the price of gas for Ukrainian consumption.Russia cut off supplies following a dispute with Ukraine over transit fees, and the price of gas for Ukrainian consumption.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
It will still take three days for the gas to reach some areas once supplies are restored.
And even then, reports the BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse from Kiev, there is still no progress on the underlying issue that provoked this crisis in the first place - the question of how much Ukraine should pay Russia for the gas it consumes in the future, and how much Russia should pay Ukraine in return for transporting gas to Europe.
'Humiliating''Humiliating'
Mr Topolanek, representing the EU in Kiev, said a deal was not far off. Speaking in Ukraine last night, the current EU president, Mr Topolanek, said a deal was not far off.
"What remains to be done is to fine-tune the technical details and to agree on the signature of a trilateral agreement," he said."What remains to be done is to fine-tune the technical details and to agree on the signature of a trilateral agreement," he said.
Officials meeting in Kiev said an agreement could be finalised, but recriminations continued late on Friday over Russian charges that Ukraine had been stealing gas. But recriminations continued late on Friday over Russian charges that Ukraine had been stealing gas, with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev also accusing Ukrainian authorities of corruption.
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 "The money from these deals was probably used for political aims or to solve personal problems," he said. "Such thievery can't be left unaccountable."
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. 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
But Ukraine's president and prime minister both repeated denials that Ukraine had stolen gas. But Ukraine's president repeated denials that his country had stolen gas, calling the accusations "incorrrect" and "humiliating".
"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. In the cold
Even when gas supplies are restored, it may still take several days for the gas to reach some areas, an EU spokesman said. The EU said the first of its monitors arrived in Kiev on Friday.
And even then, reports the BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse from Kiev, there is still no progress on the underlying issue that provoked this crisis in the first place: the question of how much Ukraine should pay Russia for the gas it consumes in the future, and how much Russia should pay Ukraine in return for transporting gas to Europe.
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.
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 Putin has also promised that EU monitors can go anywhere in Russia to verify gas flows, said Mr Topolanek. More than 15 countries have been hit by the shutdown of Russian supplies.
The head of Russia's state-controlled gas monopoly Gazprom, Alexei Miller, said Ukraine had given verbal agreement over the monitors. Serbia and Bosnia-Hercegovina are among the worst hit, as many homes there rely on communal heating stations that only run on gas.
"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. Bulgaria, which gets nearly all its gas supplies from Russia via Ukraine, has imposed gas rationing and closed schools.
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.
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 Political fallout in chilly BulgariaThe rifts behind Europe's gas rowSend us your commentsA 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.
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.
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.
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.
  
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