Moscow/Kiev - Russia on Saturday approved a European Union initiative for international observers to monitor Russian gas deliveries via Ukraine, raising hopes of a possible end to a Kremlin embargo on energy supplies to Europe.

But the mandate - a key demand by Moscow to lift its embargo of gas supplies - must still be approved by the Ukraine.

Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, signed the agreement with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Saturday afternoon.

Kiev  - Talks between Ukraine and Russia on a deal for natural gas deliveries are at a dead end, a senior Ukrainian official said Saturday evening.

Negotiations between representatives from Kiev and the Kremlin on a contract for selling Russian gas to Ukraine and onward to European Union consumers are stalled and require intervention by national leaders to go forward, said Oleh Dubina, chairman of the Ukrainian natural gas monopoly Naftogaz Ukrainy.

Moscow  - Russian energy monopoly Gazprom said Saturday that it had resumed "to a minimal extent" gas deliveries via Ukraine after days of leaving the taps turned off over a payment dispute.

The move was to be understood as a "gesture of good will," Gazprom head Alexei Miller said Saturday in Moscow during a meeting with European energy firms, Interfax news agency reported.

Gazprom said the gas was intended for the hardest hit countries in the Balkans that were suffering from the blockade.

Sofia - The Ukraine has begun delivering gas again to Moldavia and Bulgaria, in fulfilling a pledge Kiev had made, Bulgarian Economics and Energy Minister Petar Dimitrov said Saturday.

Dimitrov said he had received information from a centre in charge of monitoring gas distribution in the Balkan region about the resumption of gas deliveries, which are coming from Ukraine's own reserves.

Earlier, Ukraine President Viktor Yushchenko in a telephone call with his Bulgarian counterpart Georgi Parvanov had promised to supply gas from Ukraine's own reserves, with Kiev aiming to supply Bulgaria with 2.5 million cubic metres per day.

Bratislava - Slovakia has gas for some 15 days owing to natural gas supplies from European gas firms, officials said Saturday as a shutdown of Russian gas deliveries via Ukraine continued for the fourth day.

A Slovak Economy Ministry spokesman said that the country boosted its supplies by some 7.2 million cubic metres from reserves of Gaz de France and the German firm E. ON Ruhrgas.

Slovakia is fully dependent on Russian gas arriving via Ukraine.

Kiev - Ukraine will send Bulgaria and Moldova gas from its own reserves, according to a statement Saturday from the office of Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko.

The two Balkan nations will receive two million cubic metres of gas per day beginning Saturday, according to the statement.

The decision once effective will re-open supplies to Bulgaria and Moldova after a partial Russian cut-off beginning in early January, becoming a total shut-off on Thursday.