Berlin  - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said his talks in Berlin Friday with three key western gas importers were "good."

Speaking after a lengthy meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Putin said he expected a settlement of the dispute and an end to the blockade that has cut westward supplies of Siberian gas via Ukraine.

Merkel told reporters there might be a test phase where gas pumping was resumed under monitoring by European Union inspectors.

She said she hoped a way was found to resume supplies, and she believed a very quick settlement was possible.

"Time is of the essence," she said, adding that a settlement was also in the interests of Russia and its gas monopoly company, Gazprom. Otherwise there would be a loss of confidence in them, she said.

Putin earlier met executives of E. ON Ruhrgas of Germany, ENI of Italy and Gaz de France in a Berlin hotel. (dpa)