Gazprom, EU monitors ready to work, but operating procedure signed by all parties not received yet.

"At present a group of monitors from Gazprom and the European Commission is preparing to begin operations at gas pumping stations in Russia and Ukraine. They are fully ready to be airlifted to the sites shortly.

However, so far we have not received through official channels the procedure for gas transit monitoring through the territory of Ukraine signed by all the parties. That restrains our work and delays the beginning of operations by monitors on the sites, for which they have to leave shortly," Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov told reporters.