EU bid to revive Russia gas deal

Russia has said it cannot implement an agreement with Ukraine to resume gas flows to Europe, accusing Ukraine of adding "unacceptable" conditions. 

Several European countries have been left without gas in severe winter weather as the dispute rumbles on. 

The head of the European Commission and Ukraine's prime minister now say they will seek to address Russian concerns. 

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Kiev had added provisos contradicting Moscow's position and that the deal was "null and void" until it was resolved. 

But EC President Jose Manuel Barroso spoke to Ukraine's Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko by phone on Sunday in an effort to resolve the dispute. 

The pair agreed with her to separate Ukraine's declaration from the main text of the agreement, said a spokesman for the European Commission, which negotiated the deal. 

Source: BBC