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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
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| EU bid to revive Russia gas deal | EU bid to revive Russia gas deal |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Ukraine and the EU are trying to iron out glitches that have stalled a deal with Russia to resolve a gas dispute. | Ukraine and the EU are trying to iron out glitches that have stalled a deal with Russia to resolve a gas dispute. |
| Russia has said it cannot implement an agreement with Ukraine to resume gas flows to Europe, accusing Ukraine of adding "unacceptable" conditions. | Russia has said it cannot implement an agreement with Ukraine to resume gas flows to Europe, accusing Ukraine of adding "unacceptable" conditions. |
| Several European countries have been left without gas during the dispute. EU energy ministers are to discuss the situation in Brussels later. | Several European countries have been left without gas during the dispute. EU energy ministers are to discuss the situation in Brussels later. |
| 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. | 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 EC President Jose Manuel Barroso spoke to Ukraine's Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko by phone on Sunday in an effort to resolve the dispute. | But EC 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 monitors | EU monitors |
| Ukraine maintains the declaration is non-binding on the Russians, but now appears to have agreed to work through Moscow's grievances. | Ukraine maintains the declaration is non-binding on the Russians, but now appears to have agreed to work through Moscow's grievances. |
| "The commission still considers the declaration has no effect on the validity of the terms of reference signed by Ukraine, Russia and the EU," the EU spokesman was quoted by Reuters as saying. | "The commission still considers the declaration has no effect on the validity of the terms of reference signed by Ukraine, Russia and the EU," the EU spokesman was quoted by Reuters as saying. |
| The 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 | The 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 |
| Earlier, a spokesman for the Ukrainian president accused Moscow of "foot-dragging". | Earlier, a spokesman for the Ukrainian president accused Moscow of "foot-dragging". |
| Twenty-four hours ago it seemed a deal had been done for Russian energy giant Gazprom to re-start gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine, following frantic EU shuttle diplomacy. | Twenty-four hours ago it seemed a deal had been done for Russian energy giant Gazprom to re-start 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. |
| However, the deal appears to be off after Mr Medvedev said that Ukraine added provisos to the accord that were unacceptable to Moscow. | However, the deal appears to be off after Mr Medvedev said that Ukraine 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." |
| The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in Kiev says it appears that the 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 the 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. |
| Price row | Price row |
| Meanwhile, EU observers are waiting at pumping stations in Ukraine to monitor the flow of gas. The struggle to keep warmWhy Europe needs Russian gas | Meanwhile, EU observers are waiting at pumping stations in Ukraine to monitor the flow of gas. The struggle to keep warmWhy Europe needs Russian 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 hundreds of thousands of 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. | 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. | 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. | |