EU-brokered Russia-Ukraine gas talks open in Kiev

An urgent round of EU-brokered gas talks between Russia and Ukraine opened in Kiev today ahead of a looming threat by Moscow to cut off its neighbour's supplies in a move that could impact Europe.

The first stage of the meetings was expected to stretch into Sunday, and was attended by EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger, Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuriy Prodan and Alexei Miller, the head of Russia's state held energy giant Gazprom.