CRI听力：Russia, Ukraine Sign New Gas Deal

The agreement was signed by Russia's state-run natural gas monopoly Gazprom and the Ukraine's gas company Naftogaz.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Yulia Tymoshenko were present at the signing ceremony in Moscow.

Putin said Gazprom had received orders to resume shipments bound for Europe.

"Gas transit to Europe has been restored. Gazprom received instructions to start gas supplies along all routes suggested by our Ukrainian partners and to meet daily orders by European consumers in full volume."

Under the new agreement, Russia will sell Ukraine gas at a price "based on the European price formula", but will offer a 20-percent discount for 2009. In return, Ukraine agreed not to raise its transit fee for Russian gas supplies to Europe.

Officials say the restored gas shipments could take up to 36 hours to cross Ukraine and reach European customers.(www.hXen.com)

Russia cut off gas supplies via Ukraine to Europe on Jan. 7, one week after it stopped gas supplies to Ukraine due to failed talks on pricing and terms of transit.

The halt of gas supplies has hit some East European countries hard, which rely almost entirely on Russia for gas.