Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with the Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek of the Czech Republic which currently holds the EU presidency
The two men discussed various aspects of the situation over Ukraine's shut-off of Russian gas supplies to European consumers.
Vladimir Putin reiterated Russia's readiness to receive international observers, including the representatives of Gazprom, Naftogaz of Ukraine and European companies which receive gas, to ensure prompt and objective monitoring of the amounts of Russian gas destined for transit to European consumers through the customs territory of Ukraine.
At the same time the Russian Prime Minister stressed the need for a parallel and mandatory similar monitoring of the Ukrainian territory in order to keep a record of the volumes of Russian gas for Europe.
Vladimir Putin and Mirek Topolanek agreed that such a monitoring mechanism would make it possible to promptly resume the supply of Russian gas to Europe which had to be suspended.
