Ukraine and Russia Agree to Resume Russian Gas Supplies to Europe

A fragile agreement has been reached between Ukraine and Russia to resume supplies of Russian natural gas to Europe, ending a bitter dispute that has left tens of thousands of households in eastern and southeastern Europe without gas for heating and cooking. The EU and both countries have stated that gas to Europe will begin to flow again on Tuesday morning, following the insertion of international monitors at key pipeline checkpoints in Russia and Ukraine. Despite this breakthrough, key disputes between Ukraine and Russia remain unresolved, including a pricing dispute and a Russian demand for technical gas.

Key Takeaways:

• An agreement to insert international monitors at key pipeline checkpoints in Russia and Ukraine has been reached, fulfilling the conditions for the resumption of gas supplies to Europe.
• Monitors had been standing by in Ukraine, and Russian officials have stated that they will soon be in place at pumping stations in Russia.
• The disruption of gas shipments has left tens of thousands of households in eastern and southeastern Europe without gas for heating and cooking since Russia stopped the exports last week.
• Officials of the European Union struck a cautious tone, noting that Ukraine and Russia had appeared previously to have reached an agreement, only to have it fall apart.
• Russia and Ukraine agreed over the weekend with the European Union to deploy independent monitors along the pipelines that carry Russian gas for Europe.
• A protocol on monitors was a precondition set by Russian energy officials to turn on the flow again.
• The agreement signed on Monday does not address Ukraine's pricing dispute with Russia or a Russian demand for technical gas.
• Ukrainian officials have called the Russian demand for technical gas unacceptable, while a Gazprom spokesman reiterated that Ukraine must provide the technical gas to operate the compressors on the pipeline.

Statistics:

• Tens of thousands of households in eastern and southeastern Europe have been left without gas for heating and cooking since Russia stopped the exports last week.
• Ukraine and Russia agreed to redeploy monitors along the pipelines that carry Russian gas for Europe, a requirement set by Russian energy officials to turn on the flow again.
• The pricing dispute between Ukraine and Russia, which sparked the crisis, remains unresolved.
• Russia demands that Ukraine supply technical gas, needed to operate the compressors on the pipeline, which Ukraine has called unacceptable.

Sources:

• Martin Riman, Czech industry and trade minister (statement)
• Alexander Medvedev, deputy chief executive of Gazprom (interview)
• Yulia Tymoshenko, Ukrainian prime minister (protocol)
• Hryhoriy Nemyria, Ukrainian deputy prime minister on European and international integration (interview)
• Sergei Kupriyanov, Gazprom spokesman (statement)