Ukraine, Russia Strike Gas Deal

By Maria Danilova

KIEV, Ukraine -- Ukraine on Sunday accepted a deal on the European Union-led monitoring of Russian gas transit across its territory, opening the way for restarting Russian natural gas supplies to a freezing Europe after a four-day halt in shipments.

Russia wanted the written deal to renew gas shipments suspended amid a bitter contract dispute with Ukraine -- a move seen by many as another attempt by Moscow to reassert its clout over Western-leaning former Soviet republics.

Russia said it needs European Union monitors deployed to Ukraine to prevent it from stealing Russian gas intended for Europe. Ukraine hotly denied the claims.

Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, shuttled between Moscow and Kiev on Saturday to mediate the deal. He finally persuaded Ukraine to accept the monitoring pact during marathon talks that dragged past midnight.

"Nothing prevents Russia now from resuming gas supplies," Topolanek said after Ukrainian officials endorsed the deal.

"We once again have shown our goodwill," Ukraine's Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said, adding that the monitoring mission would uphold her nation's image as an "honest transit country."

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin promised that Moscow will resume gas shipments once the deal is signed and monitors are in place.

Putin didn't say how quickly Russia may restart supplies, but Bohdan Sokolovsky, an energy advisor to the Ukrainian president, told The Associated Press it would take Russia some 30 hours to begin gas deliveries and it would then take another 36 hours for Ukraine to move gas to its western border.