Moscow/Kiev - Kiev asked the European Union to mediate in a standoff with Russia on Thursday after gas export monopoly Gazprom fully cut supplies of Russian gas to Ukrainian consumers, in turn threatening disruptions in deliveries to Europe.

A joint statement signed by Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko made public early Thursday morning said their country had asked the EU to mediate the dispute, and promised supplies to Europe would continue "uninterrupted."

Moscow/Kiev - Ukrainian officials said Thursday they hope to resolve a dispute with Russia over gas shipments soon, perhaps by January 7, reported the Interfax news agency.

The statements from Ukraine's president and prime minister come after Russian gas monopoly Gazprom cut all supplies of gas to Ukrainian customers from 10 am Moscow time (0700 GMT) on Thursday morning, jeopardizing the smooth flow of gas deliveries to European clients further downstream.

"I am sure that in a few days, we will find a way out of these discussions, and reach an understanding with our strategic partners," President Viktor Yushchenko said Thursday.

Moscow/Kiev - Kiev asked the European Union to mediate in a standoff with Russia on Thursday after gas export monopoly Gazprom fully cut supplies of Russian gas to Ukrainian consumers, in turn threatening disruptions in deliveries to Europe.

A joint statement signed by Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko made public early Thursday morning said their country had asked the EU to mediate the dispute, and promised supplies to Europe would continue "uninterrupted."

Later in the day, the Interfax news agency quoted both as saying they hope to resolve the dispute soon. Tymoshenko said she expected an agreement by January 7, which is Christmas Day in the Russian Orthodox church.

Moscow - In the annual Russia-Ukraine game of chicken over pricing for gas exports, Russia crashed the car once in 2006. This year, it showed it is willing and able to do so all over again.

Unable to reach a deal on gas pricing and transit tariffs with Ukraine before midnight on December 31, Russian gas monopolist Gazprom opened the new year with a full stop to exports to its former Soviet neighbor.

The European Union held an uncomfortable seat on the sidelines of the jousting and refused to enter the fray as long as its supplies kept flowing.

Moscow/Kiev  - Russian export monopoly Gazprom on Wednesday accused its Ukrainian counterpart of negotiating in bad faith as talks on preventing a gas embargo failed, setting the stage for a new energy crisis in Europe.

Ukrainian and Russian government representatives quit negotiations in Moscow some two hours ahead of a promised New Year's cut-off of gas deliveries by Russian energy giant Gazprom to Ukraine, as punishment for a 2-billion-dollar Ukrainian debt.

Brussels - Ukraine's Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko on Wednesday called the head of the European Union's executive to set out her country's position in its gas row with Russia, less than two hours after her Russian counterpart did the same, EU officials said.

Tymoshenko called European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso to "inform him about the negotiations over the gas supply to Ukraine and the possible consequences for Europe," a statement released in Brussels said.