KIEV, Oct. 18 - Naftogaz Ukrayiny, the national oil and gas company, is seeking approval from the government for export of up to 2.5 bln cubic meters of natural gas to Europe, Naftogaz chairman Oleksiy Ivchenko said Tuesday.

???The country??™s natural gas balance allows us to export between 2 billion and 2.5 billion cubic meters of gas by the end of the year,??? Ivchenko said. ???We submitted a request to the Economy Ministry for such exports and await a response.???