Russia, Ukraine agree on gas monitoring

BRUSSELS, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Russia and Ukraine agreed to let gas shipments from Ukraine be monitored in efforts to end their testy contract dispute, the European Commission said Friday.

Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller, speaking in Brussels where the talks were conducted, said the monitoring team would include European Commission officials, and delegates from affected European Union companies and staff from the Russian and Ukrainian energy ministries, EU Observer reported.

"We have an agreement with the EU that when the international observers are in place in Ukraine and have access to the transit stations, we will immediately restore gas supplies to Europe," Miller said of the accord struck Thursday.

Ukraine has not allowed independent observers to its gas measuring stations since Jan. 1, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti said. European Union monitors were expected in Ukraine Friday.

The European Commission mediated talks between Russia and Ukraine on Thursday and Friday after previous discussions ended without an agreement on how to settle Ukraine's gas debts or on a contract for 2009 deliveries. Because of the breakdown, gas supplies from Russia to European consumers shipped through Ukraine were curtailed then halted.

"There was a general understanding that this is already a political problem for Ukraine, Russia and the EU, especially due to the suffering of EU citizens and the EU economy," a meeting participant told EU Observer.