Gas price cap bid sunk in 'heated' EU talks

BRUSSELS — European Union energy ministers failed on Thursday to agree on a cap on gas prices to mitigate the energy crunch in Europe, amid deep divisions over an initial proposal slammed by some as a "joke".

An emergency meeting of energy ministers only showed how the energy crisis tied to the conflict in Ukraine has divided the 27-nation bloc into almost irreconcilable blocs.

"The discussion was quite heated, and you all know that there are very divergent views," said Czech Industry Minister Jozef Sikela, who chaired the meeting where ministers could not agree on when and how a price cap on gas purchases should kick in.