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| Russia and Ukraine sign gas deal | Russia and Ukraine sign gas deal |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Russia and Ukraine have signed a 10-year gas deal, bringing to an end their long-running dispute. | |
| Gas flows from Russia to Ukraine and Europe are expected to resume in the near future. | Gas flows from Russia to Ukraine and Europe are expected to resume in the near future. |
| The EU had earlier given a guarded response to the deal, after an agreement was reached at the weekend, saying the crisis would only be over once gas supplies resumed. | The EU had earlier given a guarded response to the deal, after an agreement was reached at the weekend, saying the crisis would only be over once gas supplies resumed. |
| Millions of Europeans have been without heat because of the dispute. | Millions of Europeans have been without heat because of the dispute. |
| Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko had flown back to Moscow on Monday for a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin after the two countries' gas companies, Russia's Gazprom and Ukraine's Naftogaz, succeed in hammering out the final details. See map of countries hit by gas dispute | Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko had flown back to Moscow on Monday for a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin after the two countries' gas companies, Russia's Gazprom and Ukraine's Naftogaz, succeed in hammering out the final details. See map of countries hit by gas dispute |
| The two leaders later announced the deal after marathon talks. | The two leaders later announced the deal after marathon talks. |
| Under the deal they outlined, Ukraine will start paying for Russian gas at "European" rates from next year while equally charging Russia "market" rates for transit. | Under the deal they outlined, Ukraine will start paying for Russian gas at "European" rates from next year while equally charging Russia "market" rates for transit. |
| In the current year, Ukraine will also begin paying a higher rate but with a 20% discount in return for keeping the transit charge at its 2008 level. | In the current year, Ukraine will also begin paying a higher rate but with a 20% discount in return for keeping the transit charge at its 2008 level. |
| It is not yet clear how much these new rates will actually be, Reuters news agency notes. | It is not yet clear how much these new rates will actually be, Reuters news agency notes. |
| Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko's office had clashed with Mrs Tymoshenko on Ukraine's negotiating position just before the Moscow talks. | Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko's office had clashed with Mrs Tymoshenko on Ukraine's negotiating position just before the Moscow talks. |
| 'Hopeful moments' | 'Hopeful moments' |
| On Sundya, before the deal was signed, Czech Industry Minister Martin Riman, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, welcomed the agreement, but urged caution. | On Sundya, before the deal was signed, Czech Industry Minister Martin Riman, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, welcomed the agreement, but urged caution. |
| "Over the past few days we have seen several similarly hopeful moments. The only thing that counts for the EU is the resumption of gas supplies. | "Over the past few days we have seen several similarly hopeful moments. The only thing that counts for the EU is the resumption of gas supplies. |
| "For the time being it is not clear when this resumption takes place." | "For the time being it is not clear when this resumption takes place." |
| EU states import a quarter of their gas from Russia and 80% of supplies come via Ukraine. Almost 20 countries in Europe have been affected by the dispute. | EU states import a quarter of their gas from Russia and 80% of supplies come via Ukraine. Almost 20 countries in Europe have been affected by the dispute. |
| Russia switched off gas supplies to Ukraine on 1 January in a row over payment. Transit supplies dried up within a week as Russia accused Kiev of stealing gas meant for other countries. | Russia switched off gas supplies to Ukraine on 1 January in a row over payment. Transit supplies dried up within a week as Russia accused Kiev of stealing gas meant for other countries. |
| Back to top | Back to top |