BRUSSELS, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Russian gas monopoly Gazprom rejected a gas monitoring plan agreed by both the European Union (EU) and Ukraine, the Czech EU presidency said on Thursday.

    "Unfortunately I have to tell you that Gazprom representatives refused this proposal," Czech Minister of Commerce Martin Riman told a press conference in Brussels.

A gas valve is seen at German energy giant E.ON's Hungarian natural gas storage facility in Hajduszoboszlo, about 200 km (124 miles) east of Budapest January 7, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Earlier on Thursday, the EU hosted emergency talks with top executives both from Gazprom and Ukraine's state-run gas company Naftogaz, aiming to work out a plan to deploy an international monitoring mission at transit points to check the flow of Russian gas intended for Europe via Ukraine.

    Riman said although Ukraine had agreed to allow EU observers to supervise the operation of its gas transit system, Russia insisted that its own experts should be included in the monitoring mission.

    "We are disappointed by this position of Russia because we believe that the Russian side has no reason to refuse this proposal," he said.

    EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said the EU has no objection to Russia's demand, but it was up to Ukraine to decide whether to accept Russian observers in its territory.

    "The issue that is beyond, I believe, the EU mandate is to agree also on Russian observers in Ukraine," he said.

    Despite Russian rejection, Piebalgs said the agreement between the EU and Ukraine remains valid and an EU monitoring mission, composed of 10 to 12 representatives from the European gas industry and the European Commission, are due to arrive in Ukraine as early as Friday.

    However, no deal with Russia means no gas will be pumped into the Ukraine pipelines.

    All Russian gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine were shut down Wednesday as a gas row between Russia and Ukraine escalated, creating supply crisis for a number of EU countries.

    Gazprom chief executive Alexei Miller said earlier on Thursday his company stands ready to resume gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine once international monitors are in place.

    Miller told reporters in Brussels after talks with EU officials that he would hold further direct talks with Naftogaz's head Oleg Dubyna back in Moscow.

    "This must be resolved today," he said.

    An unexpected meeting between Miller and Dubyna in Moscow early Thursday failed to break the deadlock.

    Russia cut off gas supplies to Ukraine itself on Jan. 1 after the two countries failed to reach an agreement on gas prices for 2009, immediately resulting in disruptions of transit supplies to EU member states since the EU receives one fifth gas from Russia through Ukraine pipelines.

    Both Russia and Ukraine had been blaming each other for the disruptions of gas supplies to the EU.

    Piebalgs acknowledged that the Russian gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine will not be resumed until Russia agrees.

    "I cannot name a date and time when the gas flow will be reinstated," he said.

    Piebalgs said the EU will continue close contact with Russia and Ukraine, but the only way that the EU could use is negotiation.