Prague - An EU official Sunday signed a deal that allows international monitors to observe Russian gas flow via Ukraine, opening way for a renewal of gas deliveries to Europe, Czech officials said.

Speaking to reporters after returning from his mission in Russia and Ukraine, Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said that European Commissioner for Energy Andris Piebalgs inked the deal, which was signed earlier by Russian and Ukrainian vice-premiers.

Topolanek said that Russia reiterated its vow to open gas taps as soon as the deal is signed by all parties and observers are in their place as defined by the agreement.

"Premier Putin clearly said that gas will flow at the moment when ... everyone signs, which happened, and observers will be at their sites, which will take place immediately after they receive the signed agreement by fax," said Czech Trade and Industry Minister Martin Riman, who was present during talks in Moscow.

However, Gazprom officials said that they had not yet received a copy of the signed agreement.

Czech officials would not estimate when the supplies could be renewed but Topolanek said that "if everything goes well" the monitoring teams could be deployed on Sunday.

The European Commission-led mission, which includes Russian and Ukrainian observers, also includes experts from non-EU member Norway, a smaller gas supplier to EU members, a Czech official said. dpa