Gazprom is in talks with public relations companies over a multi-million dollar campaign aimed at improving the image of the Russian state-controlled gas monopoly in Europe and the US, after it was badly dented by “gas wars” with former Soviet republics.

Dick Cheney, US vice-president, last May accused Russia of using energy as a political weapon after Gazprom briefly cut supplies to neighbouring Ukraine in a dispute over prices. Last month Belarus and Georgia were threatened with similar treatment if they failed to agree to pay much higher prices, which both eventually did.