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.

According to Russia, Ukraine blocked four transit pipelines, making delivery to western Europe impossible. Ukraine has rejected the charges, arguing that Moscow is to blame for turning off the taps.

The cut-off leaves homes in many EU countries struggling to heat their homes over the winter, as 80 per cent of Russia's gas deliveries to the EU are transported via Ukraine.

Miller and Dubina are to meet in Brussels with EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs and Czech Energy Minister Martin Riman, whose country currently holds the EU presidency. (dpa)