MOSCOW, RUSIA - The prime ministers of Russia and Ukraine reached an agreement early on Sunday morning to resume gas supplies to Europe early next week.
The two leaders have asked the gas suppliers in their respective countries on Monday to prepare for all relevant documents to be signed, said Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko on Russian state television.
"As soon as these documents are signed on gas transit and purchase of gas, the gas transportation to Europe will resume," he said.
Tymoshenko and her Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin met in Moscow for five hours - in the negotiations as "difficult", but with success.
The two prime ministers agreed that Russia, Ukraine, a 20 percent discount on the purchase of gas. In return, Ukraine will not increase the fees charged from Russia to transport gas to European countries.
The two sides will move to a pricing formula for the next year, said Putin, who appeared with Tymoshenko over the issue.
Ukraine is an important entry point for Russian gas to Europe.
The problems began late last year in Ukraine and Russia failed to resolve a dispute over Ukraine's past payments for Russian gas, and failed to agree terms on a new contract.
As a result, Russia turned off gas to Ukraine, while promising delivery to Europe would not be affected.
Despite the guarantee, the offer was to end on January 7 of each side blaming something else.
The closure of gas in Europe has millions suffering from shortages of heat and cooking gas during an unseasonably cold winter. Eastern Europe, in particular, is experiencing historically low temperatures this year.
The European Union has called the bilateral problem that Russia and Ukraine to solve. The bloc has said on several occasions and the dispute drags on, the more damage done to the two nations' credibility and reliability as energy suppliers.