EU ENERGY Commissioner Guenther Oettinger hosted a tense meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian energy ministers in Berlin yesterday to try to resolve a deadlock over gas imports.

Moscow cut off gas supplies to Ukraine three months ago over Kiev’s failure to pay outstanding debts.

Relations remain frosty following the fascist-led overthrow of the Viktor Yanukovych government in Kiev in February. The new authorities have launched a bloody offensive against Russian-speaking regions in the country’s east which have declared their intention to secede.

But Ukrainian industries will freeze up over the winter if supplies do not resume soon — and Russia has issued complaints that EU countries such as Poland and Hungary have been re-selling Russian gas back to the Ukrainians in violation of existing contracts.

It was unclear if the two sides could reach a deal but Mr Oettinger said he was optimistic.

“I do always expect good results,” he explained.