Moscow/Kiev - Russia on Saturday approved a European Union initiative for international observers to monitor Russian gas deliveries via Ukraine, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said.
But the mandate - a key demand by Moscow to lift its embargo of gas supplies - must still be approved by the Ukraine.
Kiev/Moscow - Observers sent by the European Union to Ukraine to monitor Russian gas shipments began work on Saturday, a Ukrainian official said.
The disclosure came as meanwhile in Moscow, Russia and the EU signed an agreement on the EU proposal for international observers to monitor the Russian shipments via the Ukraine.
Moscow/Kiev - Russia and Ukraine's state gas monopolists failed Friday to make headway on a long-standing contractual dispute that has caused gas shortages in Europe.
Briefing Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Friday, Gazprom chief Alexei Miller said there had been "no progress" on the price Kiev should pay for gas and charge for transit tariffs in 2009.
Moscow/Tbilisi - Russian gas deliveries to Armenia broke off Friday when a pipeline ruptured in southern Georgia, Georgia's energy minister said.
"The gas pipeline has been damaged and the gas leak is significant so this morning we fully suspended gas transit to Armenia," Alexandre Khetaguri was quoted by local media as saying.
In a televised statement, he said it would take at least five days to complete repair work and resume supplies, adding Armenia should pull from its gas reserves.
Brussels/Moscow - The row over Russia's cut-off of gas supplies to the European Union via Ukraine hit a new chill Thursday after all-day talks in Brussels ended in mutual recriminations.
The failure by EU, Russian and Ukrainian officials to seal a deal leaves many European countries facing the prospect of gas shortages at the height of winter.
Discussions in Brussels focused on convincing Russia to renew its gas deliveries through its neighbour to Europe in return for an EU mission aimed at making sure the gas is not stolen en route, as claimed by Moscow.
Moscow - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Thursday Russia would reopen gas flow to Europe only after European monitors are in place in Ukraine to monitor its safe flow.
"What must happen today is that controlling mechanisms are put in place and monitors are sent to the border where our gas enters Ukrainian territory," Putin told journalist in televised comments Thursday.
Putin said the government in Kiev had "collapsed" and showed proof of a "high-level criminal structure."
Moscow/Kiev - Russia on Saturday approved a European Union initiative for international observers to monitor Russian gas deliveries via Ukraine, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said.
Kiev/Moscow - Observers sent by the European Union to Ukraine to monitor Russian gas shipments began work on Saturday, a Ukrainian official said.
Moscow/Kiev - Russia and Ukraine's state gas monopolists failed Friday to make headway on a long-standing contractual dispute that has caused gas shortages in Europe.
Moscow/Tbilisi - Russian gas deliveries to Armenia broke off Friday when a pipeline ruptured in southern Georgia, Georgia's energy minister said.
Brussels/Moscow - The row over Russia's cut-off of gas supplies to the European Union via Ukraine hit a new chill Thursday after all-day talks in Brussels ended in mutual recriminations.
Moscow - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Thursday Russia would reopen gas flow to Europe only after European monitors are in place in Ukraine to monitor its safe flow.
