Russia turns on gas to Europe

Russia's Gazprom company says it has resumed gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine, ending weeks of disruption. A company spokesman told the BBC that full pressure in the pipeline system would be reached by mid-afternoon local time. Russia turns on gas to Europe The move comes after the Russian and Ukrainian prime ministers agreed a new contract on the price of gas. Millions of Europeans have been without heat after the failure to renew the old contract, which expired on January 1. EU states import a quarter of their gas from Russia and 80 percent of supplies come via Ukraine. Almost 20 countries in Europe have been affected by the dispute. 'European' rates Gazprom spokesman Boris Sapozhnikov said the gas flow was restarted around 10:30 Moscow time (08:30 CET) on Tuesday. He said EU-led monitors would track the flow of the gas being pumped into Ukraine. His comments appeared to contradict those of Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who said she had witnessed the resumption of Gazprom's gas supplies at a company's dispatch center at 02:00 CET. Tymoshenko earlier held talks with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Moscow after the two countries' gas companies, Gazprom and Ukraine's Naftogaz, succeeded 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. Tymoshenko says Kiev will pay less than USD 250 per 1,000 cubic meters of Russian gas in 2009, although final confirmation of the agreed price has not been issued by either Ukraine or Russia. Last year, Ukraine paid USD 179.50 per 1,000 cubic meters, while the current average European price is more than USD 400.

Russia turns on gas to Europe

The move comes after the Russian and Ukrainian prime ministers agreed a new contract on the price of gas.

Millions of Europeans have been without heat after the failure to renew the old contract, which expired on January 1.

EU states import a quarter of their gas from Russia and 80 percent of supplies come via Ukraine. Almost 20 countries in Europe have been affected by the dispute.

'European' rates

Gazprom spokesman Boris Sapozhnikov said the gas flow was restarted around 10:30 Moscow time (08:30 CET) on Tuesday.

He said EU-led monitors would track the flow of the gas being pumped into Ukraine.

His comments appeared to contradict those of Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who said she had witnessed the resumption of Gazprom's gas supplies at a company's dispatch center at 02:00 CET.

Tymoshenko earlier held talks with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Moscow after the two countries' gas companies, Gazprom and Ukraine's Naftogaz, succeeded 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.

Tymoshenko says Kiev will pay less than USD 250 per 1,000 cubic meters of Russian gas in 2009, although final confirmation of the agreed price has not been issued by either Ukraine or Russia.

Last year, Ukraine paid USD 179.50 per 1,000 cubic meters, while the current average European price is more than USD 400.