Against the on-going backdrop of diplomatic tension, Ukraine and Russia failed to end their long-running gas pricing dispute on Saturday during last ditch talks in Kyiv.
Ukrainian and European negotiators have said they are ready to strike a deal with Moscow ahead of Monday’s deadline which could see supplies cut off to Ukraine.
Brussels, which is trying to help broker a deal, remains concerned that a halt to deliveries could also disrupt its own gas supplies to the EU.
But both Moscow and Kyiv still appear far apart with Russia’s Gazprom demanding Ukraine pay off a near 2 billion dollar gas bill.
Talks are expected to resume later in an effort to find a last minute deal.