Ukraine re-signed deal to unfreeze shipments of natural gas

Ukraine has reportedly re-signed a deal intended to unfreeze shipments of natural gas from Russia to Europe on 12 January 2009. The agreement calls for the deployment of monitors along gas transit pipelines feeding to Europe; Russia has stated that it will restart deliveries to Europe once this condition has been met. The initial monitoring agreement was signed on 10 January, but fell through on 11 January after Ukraine unilaterally issued a declaration claiming that it had paid its debts to Russia and denying the diverting of gas intended for Europe. Ukraine has since lifted the declaration. Once gas flows are resumed, it will take at least 36 hours for the supplies to reach Europe, where the gas cuts have affected approximately 20 countries.