Gazprom Chief Executive Alexei Miller spoke to journalists following a meeting with  European Parliament President Pöttering:

• We want an urgent solution to the current situation.

• We have agreed a draft protocol for monitoring the flow of transit gas through Ukraine and this has already been signed by 10 companies from EU member states. This would also involve Energy Ministries from Ukraine and Russia as well as European Commission officials.

• We hope that this protocol, which we consider the right solution for the current dispute, can be signed as soon as possible by all parties, including the European Commission.

• Transit of Russian gas through Ukraine must resume as soon as possible and we urge all parties to resolve this issue today.

• We have agreed with the European partners that once the monitors are deployed and have full access to gas transport facilities in Ukraine and Russia we will resume gas supplies to ensure 100% of European transit. Ukraine should allow full access for these monitors to their facilities. Most important is to resume shipments.

• I met Oleh Dubina in Brussels today, after we had negotiated in Moscow last night as we travelled together to Brussels on the same plane. We will also be returning to Moscow on the same plane. May I remind you that on 31 December it was Naftogaz, who walked out of the negotiations and was absent for eight days because of many reasons including that Ukrainian colleagues had no mandate to negotiate.

• Gazprom, which is a major gas supplier to EU, values its reputation as a reliable supplier and is prepared to supply EU as much gas as it needs. Ukraine currently does not fulfill its obligations as a transit country.

• Under Energy Charter Treaty the affected nations can refer Ukraine to court for failing to fulfil its transit obligations.

• Gazprom has a valid and functioning transit agreement with Ukraine until 2010 December 31