Prague - The European Union sees a "reasonable" chance for Russian natural gas to soon resume flowing via Ukraine to the 27- member bloc, a Czech official said Thursday.

"I think we can have some reasonable hope in a quick resolution for what is the most urgent need and that is to resume the gas flows," said Czech Vice-Premier for European Affairs Alexandr Vondra before a meeting of EU foreign ministers.

The Czech Republic presides over the EU until June 30.

Russia and Ukraine resumed gas talks in Moscow early Thursday and were also scheduled to bring their gas dispute to Brussels. Vondra placed his hope in the "parallel" negotiations.

German Europe Minister Guenter Gloser said it was a "positive sign" for a speedy solution that both sides agreed to resume talks and allow international monitoring of the gas flows passing through the Ukrainian route.

"The priority is that both Russia and Ukraine honour their commitments," he said.

The gas row between Ukraine and Russia resulted in a complete cut- off of Russian gas deliveries via Ukraine to Europe on Wednesday, leaving several EU members with little supplies amid freezing temperatures.

The EU relies on Russia for around a quarter of its gas needs with 80 per cent arriving via Ukraine.

Energy security, including diversification of bloc's energy sources and integration of continent's power grids, is to dominate the talks of EU foreign ministers in Prague.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Vygaudas Usackas urged the EU to invest in "strategic pipelines" that would bring supplies to Europe from the Caucasus, Middle East or Central Asia.

"When Gazprom sneezes Europe gets a cold," he said, adding that the EU needs "to think strategically while maintaining our contractual relationships with very important suppliers such as Gazprom." (dpa)