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Russia ready to resume gas talks Russia ready to resume gas talks
(20 minutes later)
Gazprom says its chief executive is going to Brussels to discuss resuming Russian gas supplies after Ukraine agreed to drop disputed conditions.Gazprom says its chief executive is going to Brussels to discuss resuming Russian gas supplies after Ukraine agreed to drop disputed conditions.
A statement from the Russian energy giant said Ukraine had signed a deal on the transit of Russian gas to the EU "without any conditions whatsoever".A statement from the Russian energy giant said Ukraine had signed a deal on the transit of Russian gas to the EU "without any conditions whatsoever".
The cut in Russian gas supplies has left many people in Central and Eastern Europe struggling to keep warm.The cut in Russian gas supplies has left many people in Central and Eastern Europe struggling to keep warm.
EU monitors are now deployed to monitor the pipeline flow when it resumes.EU monitors are now deployed to monitor the pipeline flow when it resumes.
Experts say it will take up to three days for Russian gas to reach some parts of Europe even if Russia agrees in the next few hours to turn the taps back on. The struggle to keep warmWhy Europe needs Russian gas
Russia had said it could not implement an agreement with Ukraine to resume gas flows to Europe, accusing Ukraine of adding "unacceptable" conditions.Russia had said it could not implement an agreement with Ukraine to resume gas flows to Europe, accusing Ukraine of adding "unacceptable" conditions.
Moscow alleged that Ukraine had added a clause denying it owed Russia for past supplies of gas.
The issue will be discussed by European Union ministers at an emergency meeting on Monday, set to begin at 1330 GMT.
Gazprom chief executive Alexei Miller and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin are on their way to Brussels for talks, Russia's Interfax news agency reports.
The dispute has left hundreds of thousands of people without heating during one of the harshest winters in many years and the EU ministers will examine ways of preventing a repeat of the crisis.
The European Commission and Ukraine say they will address Russian concerns.The European Commission and Ukraine say they will address Russian concerns.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Kiev had added provisos contradicting Moscow's position and that the deal was "null and void" until it was resolved. On Sunday the Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, said Kiev had added provisos contradicting Moscow's position and that the deal was "null and void" until it was resolved.
But European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso spoke to Ukraine's Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko by phone on Sunday in an effort to resolve the dispute.But European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso spoke to Ukraine's Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko by phone on Sunday in an effort to resolve the dispute.
The pair agreed to separate Ukraine's declaration from the main text of the agreement, said a spokesman for the European Commission, which negotiated the deal.The pair agreed to separate Ukraine's declaration from the main text of the agreement, said a spokesman for the European Commission, which negotiated the deal.
EU monitorsEU monitors
The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in Kiev says it appears that Ukraine's add-ons relate to the thorny question of Ukraine's gas debts to Russia, and whether or not Kiev had been siphoning off gas destined for European customers.The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in Kiev says it appears that Ukraine's add-ons relate to the thorny question of Ukraine's gas debts to Russia, and whether or not Kiev had been siphoning off gas destined for European customers.
A special meeting of energy ministers is due to begin at 1330 GMT in Brussels. We are forced to consider the agreement signed null and void, we will not be bound by it Russian President Dmitry Medvedev We are forced to consider the agreement signed null and void, we will not be bound by it Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
Earlier, a spokesman for the Ukrainian president accused Moscow of "foot-dragging".
At the weekend it seemed a deal had been done for Gazprom to restart gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine, following frantic EU shuttle diplomacy.At the weekend it seemed a deal had been done for Gazprom to restart gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine, following frantic EU shuttle diplomacy.
Both Russia and Ukraine had signed an agreement to allow international monitors to observe the flow of natural gas from Russia to Europe via the Ukraine.Both Russia and Ukraine had signed an agreement to allow international monitors to observe the flow of natural gas from Russia to Europe via the Ukraine.
But later President Medvedev said Ukraine had added provisos to the accord that were unacceptable to Moscow.But later President Medvedev said Ukraine had added provisos to the accord that were unacceptable to Moscow.
"We are forced to consider the agreement signed null and void, we will not be bound by it," Mr Medvedev said in televised remarks to his foreign minister."We are forced to consider the agreement signed null and void, we will not be bound by it," Mr Medvedev said in televised remarks to his foreign minister.
"[We] will not apply it until the proviso is recalled or annulled in some other way by the Ukrainian side.""[We] will not apply it until the proviso is recalled or annulled in some other way by the Ukrainian side."
Price rowPrice row
Meanwhile, EU observers are waiting at pumping stations in Ukraine to monitor the flow of gas. class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7817780.stm">The struggle to keep warm class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7240462.stm">Why Europe needs Russian gas Meanwhile, EU observers are waiting at pumping stations in Ukraine to monitor the flow of gas.
But the taps remain switched off and hundreds of thousands of Europeans will be left in the cold for some time to come. But the taps remain switched off and many Europeans will be left in the cold for some time to come.
Naftogaz, the Ukrainian state energy company, told the BBC that even if Russia turned the taps on, it could take at least 36 hours for that gas to reach Europe.
Russia cut supplies to the Ukraine on New Year's Day. The underlying issue over pricing that provoked the dispute is unresolved.Russia cut supplies to the Ukraine on New Year's Day. The underlying issue over pricing that provoked the dispute is unresolved.
The EU gets a quarter of its gas supplies from Russia, 80% of which passes through Ukraine.The EU gets a quarter of its gas supplies from Russia, 80% of which passes through Ukraine.
The price Ukraine should pay Russia for its gas in the coming year, and how much Russia should pay Ukraine in return for transporting gas to Europe has yet to be agreed.The price Ukraine should pay Russia for its gas in the coming year, and how much Russia should pay Ukraine in return for transporting gas to Europe has yet to be agreed.
Ms Tymoshenko has vowed to "try to continue negotiations with Russia through all possible channels" on a new gas contract.


Has your country been affected by the gas dispute? What do you think of EU efforts to resolve the issue? Send us your comments.Has your country been affected by the gas dispute? What do you think of EU efforts to resolve the issue? Send us your comments.
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