The Russian and Ukrainian natural gas companies today agreed to resume gas shipments to Ukraine under a complex price scheme.

The heads of the two state-controlled companies, Gazprom and Naftogaz, announced the conclusion of a five-year contract at a joint news conference in Moscow.

"The talks ended successfully for Gazprom and Gazprom is completely satisfied," Gazprom chief Alexei Miller said, signalling an end to the furious dispute that had engulfed not only the two companies but the Russian and Ukrainian governments and threatened long-term repercussions in Europe, as well.