VIENNA, Jan. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- Four European Union (EU) states urged Russia and Ukraine to ensure a steady gas supply to Europe amid a bitter dispute between the two countries over gas prices, Austria said on Sunday.

    The energy ministers of Germany, Italy, France and Austria made the call in letters sent to Moscow and Kiev on Saturday, when Russia said it would cut gas supplies to Ukraine if its proposal on a price hike was refused, a move that could affect gas deliveries to EU states.

    In a letter to Moscow, the four countries said Russia's state-run gas monopoly Gazprom and "companies operating in the states of the undersigned ministers have entertained close business relationships for years and that, not least because of the reliability of gas supplies from Russia, the sales of natural gas in the EU could be continuously increased in recent times."

    A reduction of natural gas supplies now "would not only come unexpectedly but could also lead to not insignificant problems fornatural gas supplies in Western Europe," said the letter.

    They called on Moscow to ensure that "the supplies to the EU member states will be maintained to their full extent" whether Russia and Ukraine could reach an agreement or not.

    The letter to Ukraine was in the same tone except a passage reminding Kiev of "years of excellent relations" which they said had intensified since Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko's government was sworn in a year ago.

    Ukraine and Russia have been locked in a bitter dispute over gas prices with Moscow asking Kiev to pay more than quadruple the current price -- 50 U.S. dollars per 1,000 cubic meters -- for gas it buys from Russia.

    Also on Sunday, Gazprom said it was cutting down natural gas supply to Ukraine after Kiev rejected Russia's demand.

    Gazprom provides about half the gas consumed in the EU and some 80 percent of that amount is sent through pipelines that cross Ukraine.

    EU energy officials are set to convene an emergency session on Wednesday to discuss the gas supply situation of the 25-nation bloc. Enditem