Moscow - Russia and Ukraine clinched an agreement Monday ending a protracted dispute that froze gas shipments to Europe for nearly two-weeks.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Yulia Tymoshenko were shown on Russian television presiding over the signing of a new contract on gas prices and transits between the two states' gas monopolies in Moscow.

Gas flows to Europe would resume "shortly" after the contract was signed, the two premiers said earlier. (dpa)