Progress in Russia-Ukraine gas row

http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/...

Published: Thursday 08 January 2009 15:44 UTC
Last updated: Thursday 08 January 2009 15:58 UTC

Russia's state-controlled gas monopoly is prepared to resume its supplies to Europe through Ukraine as soon as international monitors are in place. Gazprom chief executive officer Alexei Miller, speaking after talks with European officials in Brussels, also said he would hold further face-to-face talks with Ukraine's Naftogaz to restore supplies. Kiev said it would guarantee the flow to European clients through export pipelines on its territory once Moscow turned the tap back on.

The supply of gas from Gazprom to Europe via Ukraine has been cut off since Wednesday. This has left hundreds of thousands of people in the Balkans without gas, forced factories to shut down and disrupted deliveries as far west as France and Germany. But south-east Europe has borne the brunt of the disruption - in Bosnia, Serbia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Slovakia the situation is critical. Besides industrial stoppages, schools and crèches have been forced to close. Greece and Croatia still have reserve supplies for another two weeks. The effects of the gas dispute are particularly harsh at a time when Europe has been hit by freezing temperatures.