Articles | EU warns Russia over gas supply

EU hoping for quick end to gas row

Published: Thursday, 8 January 2009, 8:51AM

The EU has said it hopes to see a quick resolution to a row that has cut off gas supplies to Europe.

Supplies of Russian fuel to Europe through Ukraine have been disrupted because of a dispute between the two countries over pricing.

Moscow and Kiev failed to resolve their differences at a meeting in Moscow but will continue talks. The EU called on both parties to accept independent monitoring of gas flows.

Russia's state-controlled gas monopoly Gazprom said it will restore supplies as soon as international monitors are in place.

The EU said in a statement: "Both sides have to date shown insufficient determination to solve the problem, which damages their credibility.

"The EU, however, expects that the current negotiations will bring a quick solution. It urges Russia and the Ukraine to honour their obligations as supplier and transit country respectively, and to immediately resume normal deliveries to the European market."

The EU said it was unacceptable that failures to respect contractual obligations had led to the interruption of gas flows, forcing companies in eastern Europe to halt production and cut heating to hundreds of thousands of people.

The EU has called a meeting of energy ministers for January 12 to discuss the situation.