Brussels  - Russian gas monopolist Gazprom refused on Thursday to renew gas supplies to Europe in return for a mission of European Union experts intended to monitor gas flows from the country through Ukraine, EU officials said.

"Gazprom said no to the mission. We are disappointed, because we believe the Russian side has no reason to refuse and not to allow the resumption of supplies through Ukraine to the EU," Czech energy minister Martin Riman, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency, told reporters in Brussels.

Moscow/Brussels  - Russian gas monopolist Gazprom and Ukraine's Naftogaz will sit for further face-to-face talks as soon as both leave Brussels on Thursday to fly to Moscow on the same airplane, Gazprom chief Alexei Miller said.

"We flew to Brussels on the same flight. That is why we don't need to hold special talks in Brussels. We plan to fly to Russia together," Miller was quoted by news agency Interfax as saying in Brussels.

Brussels/Prague - Ukraine and Russia remained at loggerheads Thursday over the deployment of international experts to monitor gas flows through Ukraine, European Union officials said.

While both sides have agreed that international monitors could play a role in solving the standoff which has crippled gas supplies to Europe, officials said that no final agreement on a mission had been reached during talks in Brussels.

Moscow/Kiev - Russia and Ukraine held talks over a solution to the escalating gas dispute shortly before the beginning of an EU crisis meeting in Brussels, media reports said Thursday.

The heads of Russian state-owned Gazprom, Alexei Miller, and Ukraine's Naftogaz Oleg Dubina met in Moscow, Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency. He did not give any details about the talks.

Kiev and Moscow are locked in a dispute over gas prices, with Gazprom accusing Ukraine of siphoning off supplies to EU markets since Russia stopped its gas deliveries to its neighbouring country last week.

The UPA Government has announced that it plans to trim down petrol and diesel prices further in the coming 2-3 weeks and also hinted at cutting down cooking gas prices between Rs 20-25 a cylinder.

Petroleum Minister Murli Deora did not divulge the time frame and extent of reduction in the fuel prices. "The price cut is under active consideration. In two to three weeks, a decision will be taken," Mr. Deora said.

Officials at state-run oil firms have announced to start nation wide strike from Wednesday. They are demanding high wages and incentives for officials working at various refineries of country. Around 45,000 executives of public sector oil companies would join the strike to convey their resentment against Luke warm attitude of government on wages issue.