Russia's gas monopoly Gazprom announced on Tuesday its resumption of gas supplies to Europe through Ukraine, local media reported.
Gazprom's chief operator issued the order to resume gas supplies via the Sudzha gas distribution station in Ukraine, which pumps 76.6 million cubic meters a day.
The gas will be pipelined for consumers in the Balkan region, Turkey and Moldova, Itar-Tass said.
The resumption was witnessed by both representatives from Gazprom and its Ukrainian counterpart Naftogaz, as well as European Commission observer Michael Huesken at the Sudzha station.
Russia cut off gas supplies to Ukraine on Jan. 1 after the two sides failed to reach a new deal for 2009 and resolve differences over payments due. And tensions were built up when Russia shut off all gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine on Jan. 7, accusing Ukraine of stealing gas.
Countries from Turkey to the Baltics were greatly affected by the supply cut as Europe experienced an unusually cold winter. The EU then brokered a deal to end the standoff, under which it would send monitors to supervise gas flows at transit points.
Ukraine on Monday signed a new deal on monitoring Russian gas transit to Europe, removing conditions that Russia had opposed and clearing the final obstacle for Russia to resume gas supplies to Europe.
A similar dispute resulted in a briefly interrupted delivery of Russian gas to European countries in January 2006.
Russia supplies about one-quarter of the EU's natural gas, some 80 percent of which is shipped through Ukraine.
Source: Xinhua
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