European Union monitors arrived at a Russian gas export pipeline today, in what could be the first step towards ending a supply cut-off that has plunged parts of Europe into a mid-winter energy crisis.
But it was unlikely the gas would reach Europe earlier than Tuesday, nearly two weeks after a gas price row broke out between Moscow and Kiev, choking supplies and raising new questions about the European Union's reliance on Russian energy.
Under an agreement brokered by the EU, Moscow and Kiev promised to restore gas flows once the monitors are in place at strategic locations along the pipeline routes from Russia, through Ukraine, to Europe.
A hitch emerged though when Russia said it had not received an official copy of the monitoring agreement signed overnight by Ukraine and the EU's Czech presidency.
The gas crisis is the latest row between the two former Soviet republics which have sparred over Ukraine's ambition to join the NATO military alliance and Russia's war in Georgia.
Ukraine accuses Russia of using its energy muscle to punish its ex-Soviet neighbours for their ambition to join the NATO alliance. Moscow says the dispute was caused by Kiev's refusal to pay a fair price for the gas it uses.
Russian President Medvedev said on Sunday Russia will only re-start gas flows to Europe via Ukraine once it has the copy of the deal and all monitors are in place.
"If those conditions are met, the resumption of transit will start," Medvedev said in a televised meeting with Igor Sechin, the deputy prime minister in charge of energy.
"The sooner those conditions are met, the easier it will be to get out of this situation which Ukraine ... created for European customers."
Once the gas taps are re-opened it is likely to be a further 36 hours before fuel reaches customers in Europe because of the time it takes for pressure to build up in the pipeline network.
The presence of monitors along the pipeline route is aimed at reassuring Moscow that Ukraine is not siphoning off gas intended for customers in Europe.
Reuters