No threat of gas crisis, Putin says

YALTA, Ukraine, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Russian gas customers in the European Union will not face a cold winter following commitments by Kiev and Moscow to meet gas transit obligations, Moscow said.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko welcomed her Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to Yalta to discuss bilateral ties.

Relations between the countries were strained by disputes over gas debts and contracts in 2008. Russian energy giant Gazprom cut gas supplies to Ukraine in January because of the dispute. That disruption left European customers in the cold as roughly 20 percent of their gas comes from Russia via Ukraine.

Putin said that revisions to the current contractual relationship for gas meant Europe wouldn't face a gas crisis during the winter, RIA Novosti reports.

"We sincerely hope that all recent agreements (in the gas sector) will be fulfilled," he said. "We would not want to have any surprises during New Year celebrations."

Moscow under the terms of the revision agreed to lower the volume of gas requirements under the original contract and to remove related penalties. The lower gas volumes reflect, in part, declining demand in the European Union.

Tymoshenko said the agreement shows her country is on the road to recovery following a dismal economic climate during the global recession.