Russia to restore gas flows to Europe

BRUSSELS, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- Russia has agreed to restore natural gas flows to Europe with international monitors in place to ensure supplies get through, the European Commission said.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Russia had agreed to begin pumping gas Tuesday morning, The New York Times reported Monday.

Millions in Europe have dealt with a cold snap while Russian and Ukraine argued over Ukraine's gas bill and its 2009 contract with Russian energy giant Gazprom.

Russia had cut off supplies, claiming Ukraine was siphoning gas from the line that traverses Ukraine to supply European customers.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said shipments would recommence "as soon as possible."

"As soon as we are sure that the observers are on site in Ukraine," spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Czech Republic's prime minister, Mirek Topolanek, flew to Moscow to obtain Putin's signature, then flew to Kiev, Ukraine, to have Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko add her signature to the agreement.

Tymoshenko, however, penned a note next to her signature that translated to, "with declaration attached," the Times said.

The declaration said that Ukraine was not guilty of siphoning gas from the pipeline intended for other countries, the Times said.