BRUSSELS, January 19 (RIA Novosti) - The...

The meeting will not be attended by Russian or Ukrainian representatives, said EC spokesman Ferran Tarradellas Espuny, as the session is designed to evaluate "the situation of gas deliveries to EU member states."

The EC welcomed an agreement reached in Moscow on Sunday between Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Yulia Tymoshenko that should make it possible to restart gas supplies to Europe. However, the organization also said that a "test" of Russia's reliability of a gas supplier and of Ukraine's as a transit-country would be their willingness to promptly resume supplies to Europe.

The deal is expected to be signed on Monday. Under the agreement, Ukraine will enjoy in 2009 a 20% discount on prices that European consumers pay for Russian gas, while Kiev will not increase the current transit fees. Ukraine and Russia also agreed not to use intermediaries in gas trading.

Some confusion remains as to whether or not the deal

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