Russia Urges West to Prevent Ukraine 'National Disaster' ahead of Berlin Gas Talks

Russia on Thursday called on the West to prevent “a national disaster” in Ukraine as further deadly violence erupted in the country's east, killing 12 soldiers.

"We once again call on our Western partners to use all their influence on Kiev to stop Ukraine from descending into a national disaster," the ministry said in a statement.

"The international community awaits from Kiev an immediate ceasing of military activities in the east of the country and the withdrawal of troops. Without that, achieving peace in Ukraine is impossible."

Russia expressed its "deep concern over the further escalation of the situation in eastern Ukraine."

It accused the Kiev authorities of bombarding cities and civilian targets using aircraft and artillery in a military operation that "brings pain and suffering to peaceful citizens."

"Among those injured are elderly people and young children," it said.

"Once more we call on the Kiev authorities to stop the fratricidal war and start a real national dialogue with all political forces and representatives of the country's regions to seek ways for Ukraine to emerge from this very deep crisis," the statement said.

Meanwhile, the EU said Thursday that officials from Russia, Ukraine and the European Union are to hold new gas talks in Berlin on Friday under a Russian threat to cut supplies which feed several countries.

The announcement from the European Union comes just days before a deadline set by Russia to cut the flow of gas if Ukraine does not pay unpaid bills.

But Ukraine, already under pressure on its frontiers from Russia, is on its knees financially.

Oettinger was expected to hold a press conference in the afternoon, the EU said, without identifying who would represent Russia and Ukraine.

The gas dispute is set against a wider context of tension between Russia and Ukraine over Russia's occupation of Crimea.

Russia also supports separatists in the eastern region of Ukraine where government troops are trying to regain total control. 

The European Union will be represented in Berlin by Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger, and the talks will be based on an EU proposal made on Monday, the European Union office in Berlin said.

"In the trilateral talks between the EU, Russia and Ukraine on energy security the parties involved agreed to meet for further discussions in Berlin on Friday afternoon, May 30," the EU said in a statement.

This would "follow up on the proposal which the European Commission tabled on Monday."

Russia has threatened to halt the flow of gas at the beginning of next week.

The Russian gas provider Gazprom is also demanding payment in advance for deliveries in June.

The possibility that gas may no longer flow to Ukraine, and also onwards to other countries in Europe, is a matter of deep concern for the European Commission and for some European governments, and they have been trying for several weeks to act as mediators.

On Monday, Oettinger suggested a way forward. To begin with, Ukraine would pay $2.0 billion (1.47 billion euros) this Thursday, May 29, and new negotiations would be held on Friday.

But the government in Ukraine, where a new president was elected on Sunday, wants first an assurance that the price it is charged for gas will fall.