Backgrounder: Russia's gas pipelines to Europe ?¤Russia and EU took a step towards the resumption of Russian gas supplies to Europe.?¤Putin expressed the hope that Ukraine will sign the deal on Saturday.?¤Putin reiterated that gas shipments to Europe will resume as soon as the observers get down to work. MOSCOW, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Russia and the European Union (EU) on Saturday took a step towards the resumption of Russian gas supplies to Europe as the two sides signed a protocol to set up an international commission to monitor Russian gas transit via Ukraine. The agreement, which has yet to be signed by Ukraine to come into force
, was endorsed by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin
, Russian gas monopoly Gazprom's CEO Alexei Miller and Czech Industry and Trade Minister Martin Riman. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with Czech Republic's Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek in Novo Ogaryovo outside Moscow January 10, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)Ukraine signs deal on Russian gas transit monitoring KIEV, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine has signed an agreement on the EU-led monitoring of Russian gas transit to Europe, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said Sunday. Tymoshenko made the announcement in Kiev after talks with Mirek Topolanek, the prime minister of the Czech Republic, which holds the rotating EU presidency. Full storyNaftogaz: Ukraine
, Russia fail to agree on 2009 gas supply deal KIEV, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine and Russia failed to agree on a 2009 gas supply deal in the latest round of bilateral talks
, Oleh Dubyna
, chief executive of Ukrainian state energy company Naftogaz, said late Saturday. "Unfortunately the talks with Russian gas export monopoly Gazprom have finished with nothing," Dubyna told reporters at Kiev airport upon his return from Moscow. "The talks now have to proceed at a higher level." Full story EU calls for production hike amid gas crisis BRUSSELS, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- European Union (EU) energy experts urged European producers on Friday to hike production as Russian gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine remained cut-off. "The extent of the current gas crisis is unprecedented in European history," energy experts from the 27 EU member states said in a statement after a meeting with industry representatives under the framework of the EU's gas coordination group on Friday in Brussels.Full story Russia sets conditions to resume gas flows to Europe via Ukraine MOSCOW
, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Russia's state gas monopoly Gazprom said it would resume supplies to Europe via Ukraine on Friday if an agreement allowing a EU-led monitoring team to track gas flows through Ukraine was signed. Full storyEU demands immediate resumption of gas deliveries BRUSSELS, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) on Friday demanded that Russia and Ukraine immediately resume gas deliveries to the bloc's member states, saying that EU monitors for the process were already in place. "There is now agreement on the details of the monitoring mission. It is now imperative that the gas starts to flow to the EU without any further delay," the European Commission said in a statement. Full storyEU strikes deal with Russia on gas monitoring BRUSSELS, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) reached a deal with Russia on the deployment of monitors to check gas flow via Ukraine, paving the way for the resumption of Russian gas supplies to Europe, the Czech EU presidency said late Thursday. "The Czech Prime Minister and the Russian Prime Minister agreed on the conditions of deployment of the monitoring commission at all locations that are relevant for the flow of gas," the Czech government said in a statement. Full storyRelated Topics Articles：
