Russia lifts gas limit on Ukraine

RUSSIAN energy monopoly Gazprom restored gas supplies to Ukraine yesterday, ending a three-day crisis between the two ex-Soviet neighbours that has put the European Union on alert.

“Transit of Russian gas through Ukraine for European consumers is at full volume. Limitations on supplies for Ukrainian consumers have been lifted,” said a joint statement by Gazprom and Ukraine’s state energy company Naftogaz.

The deal came after a telephone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yushchenko, as well as the leaders of Gazprom and Naftogaz, the statement said.