The issue of Russian gas shipments to Europe is being discussed at talks between Russia and the United States, state news agency TASS quoted a Kremlin official as saying on Friday, confirming an exclusive report by Reuters a day earlier.

Russia's friends in Eastern Europe say EU plans to end all Russian gas and energy imports are tantamount to "economic suicide" and a threat to energy security.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has said he will seek to block the REPowerEU plan, which provides for the EU's rejection of Russian gas and other energy resources from the country. Source: LIGA.net,