Czechs take lead in chaotic gas crisis troubleshooting[fr][de] 

A Czech Presidency statement says that the European Union and Russia agreed upon conditions for the deployment of monitors at every Ukrainian location that is relevant for the flow of gas, allowing Russian gas supplies to EU to be restored. Topolánek coordinated his mediation with the help of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the statement says. 

The surprising announcement came after earlier talks had collapsed in Brussels, as acknowledged by Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs and Czech Energy Minister Martin Riman at a somewhat depressing press event. The essence of the dispute, they explained, is that Moscow wanted its own observers to monitor gas distribution in Ukraine, to which Kiev was opposed. 

Abandoning its previous position that the gas row was a bilateral commercial dispute and as such did not need EU mediation after Russia stopped supplying gas via Ukrainian territory entirely, Brussels now wants to send observers to monitor the gas supply earmarked for Europe (EurActiv 08/01/09). A Council statement published yesterday calls for Russia and Ukraine to accept independent monitoring of actual gas flow through the pipelines. 

Russian boycott 

Over the course of yesterday, contradictory information filtered through from chaotic meetings between high-level delegations from Russia's Gazprom and Ukraine's Neftohaz, and series of developments signalled a stalemate: the Russian side refused to hold meetings in a trilateral format together with EU and Ukrainian representatives, and even avoided participating in a trilateral discussion organised by the European Parliament foreign affairs committee. 

The Ukrainian delegation, led by Deputy Prime Minister Hryhoriy Nemyria, took the opportunity to present its positions to MEPs, providing extensive evidence to counter Moscow's claims that it was stealing Russian gas. Angry MEPs criticised Russia for failing to honour its commitment to take part in the meeting. British MEP Charles Tannock called the decision "a disgrace", while Bulgarian MEP Vladko Panayotov compared the situation in his country after the supply cut to the horrors of Stalingrad. 

Although the EU monitors could be in place in a matter of hours, it remains unclear when Russian gas supplies will resume. A Commission-led gas coordination group is meeting today in Brussels to assess the assistance needs of countries most hit by the crisis. Czech Minister Riman did not rule out yesterday that the Union could take a decision to revive the mothballed nuclear units of the Bulgarian central of Kozloduy, should the crisis continue. 

EU energy ministers will meet at short notice on Monday.