KIEV—Ukraine and Russia closed in on an agreement Friday to settle a dispute over supplies of and payments for Russian gas, easing fears of new disruptions to deliveries to Europe. Russian state gas firm Gazprom , which supplies one-quarter of all the European Union’s gas needs, said it had restarted supplies to Ukraine, which transports the bulk of those flows. Ukraine’s Energy Minister Eduard Stavitskiy said in an interview that it had reached a “comprehensive agreement” to resume supplies and resolve payment issues with Gazprom, pending written confirmation of the deal on Monday. Disputes between Russia and Ukraine over payments and contract terms interrupted winter gas deliveries to Europe in 2006 and 2009. Gazprom had warned Thursday that supplies to Europe were threatened because Ukraine had stopped buying gas. “It’s a comprehensive, package agreement, which, as of now, can be considered reached,” Mr. Stavitskiy said. “Ukraine has again started […]