Shivering Europe waits as Russia and Ukraine end gas dispute

Millions of Europeans were waiting anxiously today for gas supplies to be restored after Russia and Ukraine signed deals to end the bitter dispute that cut off shipments for two weeks.

The countries normally get about one-fifth of their gas from Russia via Ukrainian pipelines, were given the news they wanted yesterday when Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Yulia Tymoshenko signed the documents at Mr Putin’s government headquarters on the Moscow river.