Putin agrees gas monitor conditions: EU presidency
(PRAGUE) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his Czech counterpart Mirek Topolanek agreed Thursday on the conditions for deploying gas monitors in Ukraine, the Czech EU presidency said.
"This deployment should lead to the Russian supplies of gas to EU member states being restored," the presidency said, adding Topolanek had also consulted German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Talks between Russia and Ukraine on resuming Russian gas deliveries to Europe via Ukraine, suspended over a price dispute, collapsed in Brussels earlier on Thursday.
Putin, as well as the chief executive of Russian energy giant Gazprom, Alexei Miller, have promised Russia will resume supplies once the monitors are in place.
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