Statement by Sean McCormack on Ukraine/Russia Agreement to Restore Gas Flows to Europe

U.S. Department of State - Office of the Spokesman - January 12, 2009

The United States welcomes the agreement brokered by the Czech Presidency of the European Union to enable the restoration of gas flows to European customers and to provide greater transparency along the transit route.

Now that this agreement is in place, we call upon Russia to restore gas flows immediately. We also urge Russia and Ukraine to conclude quickly a deal on the sale and transit of gas. This incident once again underscores the importance of diversifying supplies of natural gas and of transparent, market-oriented arrangements for the sale and shipment of natural gas.