Russian energy giant Gazprom stated Thursday it was ready to start pumping gas through Ukraine to European markets as soon as independent monitors are in place following EU-hosted talks in Brussels, dpa reported.
All Russian natural gas deliveries to Europe through Ukraine were halted Wednesday, leaving millions of European customers at risk of gas shortages amid freezing winter temperatures.
Speaking in the Belgian capital, Gazprom Chief Executive Alexey Miller told reporters the company was seeking an "urgent solution" to the crisis, which started at the end of last year when Gazprom accused Ukrainian state-run gas company Naftogaz of failing to pay for past gas deliveries. Naftogaz denied the claim and also disputed the price of a new Gazprom gas delivery contract.
Miller said Gazprom had agreed a protocol signed by gas companies from 10 EU member states to deploy observers along gas pipelines in Russia and Ukraine to monitor the flow of transit gas. iReporter shivers in Ukraine
"We hope that this protocol, which we consider the right solution for the current dispute, can be signed as soon as possible by all parties, including the European Commission," said Miller. "Transit of Russian gas through Ukraine must resume as soon as possible and we urge all parties to resolve this issue today.
"We have agreed with the European partners that once the monitors are deployed and have full access to gas transport facilities in Ukraine and Russia we will resume gas supplies to ensure 100 percent of European transit."
The head of Naftogaz, Oleh Dubyna, was also in Brussels Thursday for separate EU talks after the two sides held a midnight meeting in Moscow, Russia.
Both Miller and Dubyna plan to return to Moscow after Thursday's talks, Naftogaz spokesman Valentin Zemlyansky said.
Ukraine is a major transit country for gas deliveries to Europe. Gazprom had promised that the European exports would be unaffected by the impasse with Naftogaz, but Wednesday, both sides blamed the other for shutting off that European supply. Map of Europe's gas pipelines and the countries affected by the row "
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At least 13 countries have reported reductions or cuts in their Russian gas supply from Ukraine since the situation flared this week.
The situation was on the agenda at a meeting of EU officials Thursday in Prague, one of the first major meetings hosted by the Czech presidency of the European Union. The Czech Republic said it will propose ways to strengthen energy security among EU members.