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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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EU Strikes Deal to End Russian Gas Freeze

Thousands of eastern Europeans left in the cold by Russia-Ukraine dispute

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(Newser) – Gas could be flowing back to a frozen Europe within days after Russian and Ukrainian officials agreed yesterday to an EU-brokered plan to have independent observers monitor pipelines, the Guardian reports. Russia cut off all its gas supplies via Ukraine Wednesday over a pricing dispute, leaving hundreds of thousands scrambling to stay warm in a deadly cold snap.

As many as 12 EU monitors will be sent to Kiev today to begin assessing the situation, although one eastern European diplomat said he fears the frigid weekend ahead could be a “looming humanitarian catastrophe” for the region—which relies heavily on Russian gas supplies and lacks the heating alternatives of western European customers like Germany.

A Bulgarian orthodox priest fires a wood burning stove before a mass at a church in order to warm it, in the village of Grigorevo near the Bulgarian capital of Sofia, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009.
A Bulgarian orthodox priest fires a wood burning stove before a mass at a church in order to warm it, in the village of Grigorevo near the Bulgarian capital of Sofia, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009.   (AP Photo/Petar Petrov)
One of the main city heating plants is seen in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009.
One of the main city heating plants is seen in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009.   (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
An engineer checks the pressure in the pipeline pumping natural gas out of underground storage near the Ukrainian border in Hajduszoboszlo, Hungary, Wednesday, Jan. 7. 2009.
An engineer checks the pressure in the pipeline pumping natural gas out of underground storage near the Ukrainian border in Hajduszoboszlo, Hungary, Wednesday, Jan. 7. 2009.   (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)
A Bulgarian orthodox priest goes to fire a wood burning stove before a mass at a church in order to warm it, in the village of Grigorevo near the Bulgarian capital of Sofia, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009.
A Bulgarian orthodox priest goes to fire a wood burning stove before a mass at a church in order to warm it, in the village of Grigorevo near the Bulgarian capital of Sofia, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009.   (AP Photo/Petar Petrov)
A Bulgarian man holds a poster which reads 'Gas terrorists' during a protest in front of the Ukraine's embassy in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009.
A Bulgarian man holds a poster which reads 'Gas terrorists' during a protest in front of the Ukraine's embassy in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009.   (AP Photo/Petar Petrov)
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Russia's Gazprom says it's prepared to restart gas shipments through Ukraine once observers arrive to monitor operations.   (CNN Video)

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