Ukraine, Russia try again to forge gas deal at Brussels talks

Ukraine's Energy Minister Yuri Prodan (L) shakes hands with European Commissioner for Energy Guenther Oettinger before gas talks between the EU, Russia and Ukraine at the EU representation in Berlin, September 26, 2014. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Ukraine and Russia begin new gas crisis talks on Wednesday, but wrangling over Ukraine's upfront cash payments threatens to push a deal out of reach, even as temperatures have fallen below zero in Kiev.

Russian state utility Gazprom halted supplies to Kiev in June because of Ukraine's unpaid gas bill, which Moscow says is around $4.5 billion (2.8 billion pounds).