Hungary suspends gas supplies to Ukraine

Hungary's gas pipeline operator, FGSZ, says it has suspended delivery of gas to neighbouring Ukraine "indefinitely".

Ukraine has been receiving gas from Hungary, Poland and Slovakia since Russia cut off supplies to Ukraine in June in a dispute over unpaid bills.

Ukraine's state-owned gas firm, Naftogaz, confirmed the stoppage. It called the move "unexpected and unexplained".

FGSZ said it cut deliveries to Ukraine to raise the flow of gas to Hungary.

With winter approaching fears are mounting that Ukraine will be unable to heat homes and power industry without Russian gas.

On Friday Russian and Ukrainian energy ministers

IPPR: Europe can reduce reliance on Russian gas

The European Union can dramatically reduce reliance on Russian gas through energy efficiency targets, centre-left think tank IPPR has said.

A binding energy-saving target of 35% by 2030 would cut gas imports by a third, IPPR said.

The UK government has opposed such a target, saying it would be restrictive, and may not be cost-effective.

However, a security expert said energy supplies from volatile regions risk disruption.

The UK should adopt energy efficiency targets as part of its broader response to events in Ukraine, Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) research fellow Joss Garman said.

The European Union has approved new sanctions against Russian energy companies including Rosneft, but gas will not be affected.

Boosting energy efficiency