<span style="color: #222222;">Russia has said that it maintained gas flows through key pipeline routes into Europe despite European leaders' call for more sanctions against Moscow and uncertainty over payment terms. Russian state-owned energy giant Gazprom in a statement said that it was continuing the supply of natural gas to Europe via Ukraine in line with requests from European consumers.<br />''<br />''Meanwhile, Germany's Defence Minister said yesterday that the European Union must discuss banning the import of Russian gas. Lithuania has already announced it will no longer import Russian gas to meet its domestic needs. Italy and Germany are among the European Union members most dependent on Russian supply.</span><br />