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| Russia and Ukraine sign gas deal | Russia and Ukraine sign gas deal |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Russia and Ukraine have signed a 10-year gas deal, which their prime ministers say will bring their long-running dispute to an end. | |
| Russia says its energy company Gazprom has been told to resume gas flows to Ukraine and Europe. | Russia says its energy company Gazprom has been told to resume gas flows to Ukraine and Europe. |
| The EU had earlier given a guarded response, saying the crisis would only be over once gas supplies resumed. | The EU had earlier given a guarded response, saying the crisis would only be over once gas supplies resumed. |
| Millions of Europeans have been without heat because of the dispute, which began on 1 January. | Millions of Europeans have been without heat because of the dispute, which began on 1 January. |
| No delays | No delays |
| Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said the transit of Russian gas to European consumers would begin as soon as the gas reached Ukraine. | Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said the transit of Russian gas to European consumers would begin as soon as the gas reached Ukraine. |
| During a joint news briefing with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Ms Tymoshenko said there would be "no delays" in supplies from the Ukraine side. | During a joint news briefing with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Ms Tymoshenko said there would be "no delays" in supplies from the Ukraine side. |
| See map of countries hit by gas dispute | See map of countries hit by gas dispute |
| Officials say the restored gas shipments could take up to 36 hours to cross Ukraine and reach European customers, the Associated Press. | Officials say the restored gas shipments could take up to 36 hours to cross Ukraine and reach European customers, the Associated Press. |
| Ms Tymoshenko had flown back to Moscow on Monday for a meeting with Mr Putin after the two countries' gas companies, Gazprom and Ukraine's Naftogaz, succeed in hammering out the final details. | Ms Tymoshenko had flown back to Moscow on Monday for a meeting with Mr Putin after the two countries' gas companies, Gazprom and Ukraine's Naftogaz, succeed in hammering out the final details. |
| Under the deal they outlined, Ukraine will start paying for Russian gas at "European" rates from 2010 while equally charging Russia "market" rates for transit. | Under the deal they outlined, Ukraine will start paying for Russian gas at "European" rates from 2010 while equally charging Russia "market" rates for transit. |
| In the current year, Ukraine will also begin paying a higher rate but with a 20% discount in return for keeping the transit charge at its 2008 level. | In the current year, Ukraine will also begin paying a higher rate but with a 20% discount in return for keeping the transit charge at its 2008 level. |
| It is not yet clear how much these new rates will actually be, Reuters news agency notes. | It is not yet clear how much these new rates will actually be, Reuters news agency notes. |
| Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko's office had clashed with Mrs Tymoshenko on Ukraine's negotiating position just before the Moscow talks. | Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko's office had clashed with Mrs Tymoshenko on Ukraine's negotiating position just before the Moscow talks. |
| 'Hopeful moments' | 'Hopeful moments' |
| The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, in Moscow, says Prime Ministers Tymoshenko and Putin seem to be back on good terms again, a change of tune from a few days ago. | The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, in Moscow, says Prime Ministers Tymoshenko and Putin seem to be back on good terms again, a change of tune from a few days ago. |
| The reputations of Russia, as a gas supplier, and Ukraine, as gas transit country, have been damaged by the affair, our correspondent says. | The reputations of Russia, as a gas supplier, and Ukraine, as gas transit country, have been damaged by the affair, our correspondent says. |
| On Sunday, before the deal was signed, Czech Industry Minister Martin Riman, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, welcomed the agreement, but urged caution. | On Sunday, before the deal was signed, Czech Industry Minister Martin Riman, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, welcomed the agreement, but urged caution. |
| "Over the past few days we have seen several similarly hopeful moments. The only thing that counts for the EU is the resumption of gas supplies." | "Over the past few days we have seen several similarly hopeful moments. The only thing that counts for the EU is the resumption of gas supplies." |
| EU states import a quarter of their gas from Russia and 80% of supplies come via Ukraine. Almost 20 countries in Europe have been affected by the dispute. | EU states import a quarter of their gas from Russia and 80% of supplies come via Ukraine. Almost 20 countries in Europe have been affected by the dispute. |
| Russia switched off gas supplies to Ukraine in a row over payment. Transit supplies dried up within a week as Russia accused Kiev of stealing gas meant for other countries. | Russia switched off gas supplies to Ukraine in a row over payment. Transit supplies dried up within a week as Russia accused Kiev of stealing gas meant for other countries. |
| Back to top | Back to top |