Gazprom may resume gas shipments to Europe today

The chief of Russia`s Gazprom says the company could resume natural gas shipments to Europe on Friday if EU observers begin monitoring Ukrainian pipelines, AP reported.

Alexei Miller says a final agreement on sending the team will be signed Friday.

He says the Russian state gas monopoly will resume European shipments right after that.

Miller says no progress has been reached on negotiating a new contract for supplies of Russian gas to Ukraine.

Gazprom stopped natural gas shipments to Ukraine on Jan. 1 amid a debt and pricing dispute, and to Europe via Ukraine`s pipelines on Wednesday. Russia said it made the move because Ukraine siphoned gas intended for European customers - a claim Ukraine denied.