Russia expects to restart transit of natural gas through Ukraine to Europe immediately after the two countries' state gas firms OAO Gazprom (GAZP.RS) and Naftogaz have signed a commercial agreement on Monday afternoon, a Russian government spokesman said Monday.
"We expect transit of gas to Europe to be resumed immediately after the signing," said Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
However, Peskov said Russia hasn't yet received any approval from Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko following talks between Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Yulia Tymoshenko Saturday.
"We hope everything will be OK," said Dmitry Peskov.
A spokesman for Russia's state-controlled gas firm Gazprom said it would take two days to restore full gas exports to Europe through Ukraine.