Russia and Ukraine signed a deal yesterday for a second time to help secure the resumption of Russian gas supplies to Europe, cut off for nearly a week in freezing temperatures.

Earlier yesterday Ukraine removed additions to the deal struck over the weekend to resolve the latest row holding up the deployment of monitors to check Russian gas flowing across Ukraine to Europe.

Russia has accused Ukraine of siphoning off gas to make up for losses it has suffered since Moscow turned off the tap on Jan 1 in a dispute over gas prices. Ukraine denies the charge.