European observers said “little or no gas” was flowing from Russia into Ukraine today despite Moscow claiming it has resumed the supply after a six-day hiatus.

Gazprom, Russia’s state energy company, cut off gas to Eastern Europe for nearly a week after a series of bitter disputes with Ukraine over unpaid bills. The disagreement affected 18 countries leaving many without heating for several days.

Within hours of the gas being switched back on today the two-sides had become embroiled in yet another round of disagreements. After claim and counter-claim this morning, Ferran Tarradellas Espuny the EU spokesman said “very limited” amounts of gas started flowing to Ukraine and only through one entry point from Russia.

He said European Union monitors still do not have full and free access to dispatching centres in Kiev or Moscow to check the gas flow.

A spokesman for Ukraine’s state gas company Naftogaz admitted that it had partially blocked the supply but claimed it was forced to do so because of “unacceptable transit conditions” imposed by Gazprom.

The EU brokered a deal last night, but Moscow and Kiev began to bicker almost immediately over how long the gas would take to reach European pipelines fed by Ukraine, and whether any gas is being lost en route.

Russia restarted supplies only after an EU-led monitoring mission was deployed to metering and compressor stations across Ukrainian territory to make sure that Kiev was not siphoning off gas.

"They have started. The gas has already reached Ukraine,” said Denis Ignatyev, a Gazprom spokesman, after Vladimir Putin, the Prime Minister, gave the order last night to resume supplies at 0700 GMT.

NTV television showed a Gazprom official in Moscow on the phone ordering gas to be pumped towards the Balkans, Turkey and Moldova, with a technician replying: “I have received the order. We are implementing it."

European Union and Ukrainian officials have said that the gas will take between 24 and 36 hours to pass into waiting European pipelines, but this morning Gazprom contradicted this, insisting that the gas should arrive in Europe almost immediately.

"As soon as we start pumping the gas at the entry point, it should appear at the exit point,” a spokesman, Sergei Kupriyanov, said in a statement.

Mr Kupriyanov asserted that there was still gas in the pipelines, even though supply has been completely cut off since last Wednesday, and that this should ensure that gas supplies flow more quickly.

“Comments by Ukraine that 36 hours are needed from the arrival of transit gas from Russia into Ukraine’s gas network until it reaches Ukraine’s western border evoke disbelief and do not meet the current contract,” he said.

“From the start of supplies of Russian gas at the entry point into Ukraine’s gas transport system, the volume of gas exiting from the western border of Ukraine must correspond exactly to the quantity supplied.”

It is not clear when Ukraine will begin to accept the gas being pumped from Russia. Europe depends on Russia for a quarter of its gas supplies and most of those volumes are shipped though Ukraine, a former Soviet republic whose pro-Western leaders have angered the Kremlin by seeking to join the NATO military alliance.

Russia cut off gas to Ukraine itself on January 1 after failing to reach agreement with Kiev on gas fees. A week later it also halted transit flows, saying that Ukraine was stealing gas intended for Europe. Kiev accused Moscow of using energy blackmail.

As part of yesterday's deal, Moscow would still not supply gas to Ukraine itself because of their contract dispute, and Russian officials said that differences with Kiev over how to ensure transit to Europe could still create problems.

Almost 20 European countries suffered disruptions to their gas supplies, during a spell of exceptionally cold weather. Eastern Europe and the Balkans bore the brunt of the problems.

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