EU, Russia strike deal on monitoring gas flow

BELGIUM: The European Union said Thursday that gas supplies should restart after it struck a deal with Russia on supervising the flow of gas through Ukraine.

Russia cut off natural gas supplies to Europe on Tuesday during freezing winter weather as a payment dispute with Ukraine escalated. Russia claims Ukraine siphoned off gas for its own use. Ukraine denies this.

Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, whose country holds the EU presidency, said he spoke to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel and they agreed on how monitors should check the amount of Russian gas entering and leaving Ukraine.

“This deployment should lead to the Russian supplies of gas to EU member states being restored,” the Czech government said in a statement.

BRUSSELS, Friday, AP