Kiev  - Talks between Ukraine and Russia on a deal for natural gas deliveries are at a dead end, a senior Ukrainian official said Saturday evening.

Negotiations between representatives from Kiev and the Kremlin on a contract for selling Russian gas to Ukraine and onward to European Union consumers are stalled and require intervention by national leaders to go forward, said Oleh Dubina, chairman of the Ukrainian natural gas monopoly Naftogaz Ukrainy.

Prague  - A Czech artist's contribution to a European Union- wide art project to be unveiled in Brussels on Monday mocks Czech President Vaclav Klaus, an outspoken EU critic and global warming doubter, a report said Saturday.

The Lidove Noviny daily reported that a Czech piece in a giant jigsaw representing the 27 members of the EU features Klaus's controversial statements running on a display set in blue background.

"I don't know anything about that," said Klaus's spokesman Radim Ochvat.

Prague  - A Czech artist's contribution to a European Union- wide art project to be unveiled in Brussels on Monday mocks Czech President Vaclav Klaus, an outspoken EU critic and global warming doubter, a report said Saturday.

The Lidove Noviny daily reported that a Czech piece in a giant jigsaw representing the 27 members of the EU features Klaus's controversial statements running on a display set in blue background.

"I don't know anything about that," said Klaus's spokesman Radim Ochvat.

The 8-ton artwork, partially paid by the Czech state, is to be on display at a seat of the Council of the European Union during the country's presidency of the bloc lasting through June 30.

Kiev  - Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek met with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko and Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko on Friday as part of an European Union diplomatic offensive to end a Russian natural gas embargo.

The Czech Republic holds the rotating presidency of the EU.

Yushchenko and Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, in a rare show of public solidarity, jointly met Toplanek at Kiev's Boryspil airport.

Prague  - Russia agreed Thursday to deploy monitors to observe Russian gas flow through Ukraine in a move that "should" lead to resumption of gas supplies to the European Union, the Czech EU presidency said.

The breakthrough followed talks between Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, whose country chairs the EU until June 30, and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, the presidency said in a statement.

"Now the only decision missing is to put the gas in the system again," a Czech official close to the talks said.

Rome - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said Thursday his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin assured him that a proposed European Union mission to Ukraine will take place imminently, paving the way for the resumption of Russian gas supplies to the 27-nation bloc.

Berlusconi was speaking to reporters following a "long" evening telephone conversation with Putin, according to the ANSA news agency.