Brussels  - The European Union has not tried hard enough to wean itself from its dependency on Russian gas, and now it faces a tough struggle to restore its security.

That was the verdict of industry experts on Monday as EU leaders waited to see whether the Kremlin's latest promise to have the gas flowing to Europe by the morning would bear fruit.

Prague - An EU official Sunday signed a deal that allows international monitors to observe Russian gas flow via Ukraine, opening way for a renewal of gas deliveries to Europe, Czech officials said.

Speaking to reporters after returning from his mission in Russia and Ukraine, Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said that European Commissioner for Energy Andris Piebalgs inked the deal, which was signed earlier by Russian and Ukrainian vice-premiers.

Topolanek said that Russia reiterated its vow to open gas taps as soon as the deal is signed by all parties and observers are in their place as defined by the agreement.

Moscow/Kiev  - Ukraine joined Russia to approve a European Union initiative for international observers to monitor Russian gas deliveries via Ukraine, raising hopes of a possible end to a Kremlin embargo on energy supplies to Europe.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko signed the deal early Sunday, Interfax news agency reported.

Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, arrived in Ukraine on Saturday evening in an attempt to get Kiev to sign a deal aimed at ending Russia's natural gas embargo to Europe.

Moscow/Kiev  - Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, arrived in Ukraine on Saturday evening in an attempt to get Kiev to sign a deal aimed at ending Russia's natural gas embargo to Europe.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Topolanek on Saturday afternoon signed the agreement for EU observers on the ground to monitor the volumes of Russian natural gas moving through Ukraine.

Moscow/Kiev - Russia on Saturday approved a European Union initiative for international observers to monitor Russian gas deliveries via Ukraine, raising hopes of a possible end to a Kremlin embargo on energy supplies to Europe.

But the mandate - a key demand by Moscow to lift its embargo of gas supplies - must still be approved by the Ukraine.

Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, signed the agreement with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Saturday afternoon.

Kiev  - Talks between Ukraine and Russia on a deal for natural gas deliveries are at a dead end, a senior Ukrainian official said Saturday evening.

Negotiations between representatives from Kiev and the Kremlin on a contract for selling Russian gas to Ukraine and onward to European Union consumers are stalled and require intervention by national leaders to go forward, said Oleh Dubina, chairman of the Ukrainian natural gas monopoly Naftogaz Ukrainy.