Kiev  - Ukraine's government on Friday upped the ante in its natural gas conflict with Russia, informing the Kremlin's ongoing gas shipments to Europe might well be "confiscated."

The absence of a contract between Russia and Ukraine for gas deliveries and transfers onward to Europe makes any gas shipped by Russia into Ukraine technically "of unknown origin," and so subject to confiscation by the Ukrainian government, wrote Oleh Dubina, chairman of Ukraine's Naftogaz Ukrainy gas trading company.

Prague  - The European Union is to avoid involvement in a Russian-Ukrainian row over gas supplies as long as Russian gas keeps flowing to the 27-member bloc, an EU official said Thursday.

Speaking on Czech Television, the new EU head, Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, said that the EU was reluctant to broker the bilateral gas dispute that threatens union's gas supplies.

"It is pretty much a Russian-Ukrainian dispute and it has to be solved as such," Topolanek said.

Berlin - Gas suppliers said Thursday they foresaw no shortage of gas in Germany, western Europe's biggest gas importer, despite Russia cutting gas supplies to its western neighbour Ukraine.

"Our customers can count on reliable deliveries," said Martin Weyand, chief of the BDEW German utilities federation.

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.