Rome - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said Thursday his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin assured him that a proposed European Union mission to Ukraine will take place imminently, paving the way for the resumption of Russian gas supplies to the 27-nation bloc.

Berlusconi was speaking to reporters following a "long" evening telephone conversation with Putin, according to the ANSA news agency.

The Italian premier said he believed in an "immediate" arrival of the EU mission in Ukraine, "even tomorrow (Friday)," ANSA quoted him as saying.

According to a EU proposal, the mission is to ensure that gas from Russia is not, as alleged by Moscow, stolen en route when passing through pipelines in Ukraine.

Earlier Thursday in Brussels, talks between EU, Russian and Ukrainian officials to seal a deal ended in deadlock.

Russian gas monopolist Gazprom refused the proposal citing what it said was Ukraine's refusal to accept any Russian observers on its territory - a key demand from Moscow.

Russia supplies roughly 25 per cent of the EU's total gas consumption, and 80 per cent of that total passes through Ukrainian pipelines. (dpa)