Gazprom, Russia’s state-controlled gas monopoly said a deal to monitor gas exports via Ukraine would be signed on Friday, allowing for the resumption of supplies to Europe cut off by Moscow’s price row with Kiev.

”We expect that in the course of today the protocol on the creation of an international independent mechanism to guarantee the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine will be signed,” Interfax quoted Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller as saying. ”And immediately after that we will renew (gas) deliveries.”