DHAKA: Ukraine and Russia were set on Wednesday to resume crunch EU-mediated gas talks aimed at ending a months-long supply cut that threatens to hit swathes of Europe this winter.

The latest negotiations in Brussels come a day after Russia stirred tensions with its war-torn neighbour still further by announcing plans to recognise the disputed leadership polls pro-Kremlin insurgents in eastern Ukraine intend to stage on Sunday.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov’s comments drew a sharp rebuke from US Secretary of State John Kerry and coincided with a decision by EU leaders to keep sanctions in place against Moscow for its alleged meddling in Ukraine.

The former Soviet nation staged its own general election on Sunday that saw pro-European forces score a decisive victory at the expense of parties that once backed closer ties with Russia but now prefer to tread a more centrist course.

BDST: 1802 HRS, OCT 29, 2014