Prime ministers from Ukraine and Russia discussed resumption of talks concerning natural gas delivery, an issue affected much of Europe in January. Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Yulia Tymoshenko discussed the issue along with trade and economic cooperation and the results of a meeting between the countries' energy ministers, Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Putin's office said, RIA Novosti reported Friday. This winter, Russia claimed Ukraine was behind on its gas bill and wouldn't negotiate on a 2009 delivery contract.

Russia has agreed to restore natural gas flows to Europe with international monitors in place to ensure supplies get through, the European Commission said. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Russia had agreed to begin pumping gas Tuesday morning, The New York Times reported Monday. Millions

European News IN BRIEF *MOSCOW Russia's largest political group, the United Russia Party, has created a new role of chairman and said it would ask President Vladimir Putin to take the job, a possible final clue to the riddle of who will really run Russia after he steps down.

By Lynn Berry Associated Press MOSCOW -- Vladimir Putin said Monday that parliamentary elections handed him the mandate he sought to remain Russia's leader after his presidency ends next spring. But he needs to decide quickly how to use that mandate or risk seeing his influence erode.

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV TEHRAN, Iran - Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared ready to cancel his first trip to Iran following reports about a possible assassination attempt - a move that would badly strain Moscow's relations with Tehran.