Brussels, Jan 5, SPA -- The European Union on Monday sent a fact-findingmission to Kiev in a bid to clarify the situation surroundingRussia's shut-off of gas supplies to Ukraine, DPA quoted EU officials as saying. The delegation of top officials from the Czech Republic, whichcurrently holds the EU's rotating presidency, and the EuropeanCommission, the EU executive, is set to hold talks with Ukrainianpolitical leaders and representatives of the gas industry, apresidency spokesman told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa. The delegation is also due to meet officials from Russia's gasmonopolist Gazprom on Monday or Tuesday, depending on theirrespective schedules. Gazprom has already sent a delegation of topofficials to Europe to present its side of the dispute. The mission is headed by Czech Industry Minister Martin Riman. Heis accompanied by his country's special envoy for energy, VaclavBartuska, and officials from the office of EU Energy CommissionerAndris Piebalgs. The EU mission is intended to "keep up intense contacts" with thetwo sides, whose row over contracts and allegedly unpaid bills ledGazprom to shut off gas deliveries to Ukraine on Thursday, thespokesman said. Since the row began, Russia and Ukraine have issued conflictingaccounts of who started it and how much impact the shut-off has hadon supplies to Europe. Reports from EU member states in Central and Eastern Europe havealso given conflicting versions of the current state of gas supplies,leaving the EU's authorities groping for accurate information. The fact-finding mission had been planned for later this week, butwas brought forward to avoid a clash with the Orthodox Christmas onWednesday, the presidency spokesman said. The EU is heavily reliant on Russian gas which passes throughUkrainian pipelines for its energy needs. In early 2006, a similarRusso-Ukrainian dispute caused gas shortfalls across much of Europe. EU diplomats are set to hold an emergency meeting in Brusselslater on Monday to exchange information over the gas crisis, thepresidency spokesman said. EU energy experts are set to meet in Brussels on Friday.--SPA 051015 GMT Jan 09 www.spa.gov.sa/622947