KIEV, April 27 - The government on Thursday restricted indefinitely spending by Naftogaz Ukrayiny, the national oil and gas company, amid concerns that the company??™s may run into financial difficulties, an official said.

KIEV, April 27 ??“ Ukraine should accelerate talks with Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan over natural gas supplies amid signs that the country may face shortages, a top security advisor to President Viktor Yushchenko said Thursday.

KIEV, April 27 ??“ The State Property Fund ordered the state-run holding company Ukrpapirprom to take measures to return previously sold stakes in three large pulp and paper mills to state ownership, the SPF said.

KIEV, April 27 ??“ The Cabinet of Ministers, at a meeting Thursday, approved a major reshuffling of regional governors throughout Ukraine, the first such action since pro-government party had performed poorly at general election last month.

KIEV, April 26 ??“ UkrTatNafta, Ukraine's largest oil refinery, scrapped a preliminary $1.5 billion deal with LG International Corp that had called for modernization of the refinery within the next decade, a company official said Tuesday.

KIEV, April 26 ??“ Russia refuses to recognize the border with Ukraine in the region of the Kerch Strait, a sign the parties have failed to make any progress in talks during the past one-and-a-half years.

KIEV, April 26 ??“ A former senior Ukrainian official accused of misusing and embezzling almost UAH900 million worth of state property has apparently obtained Russian citizenship and Russia refuses to extradite him, officials said Tuesday.

KIEV, April 27 - Talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week were instrumental in lowering rocketing gasoline and diesel fuel prices charged by Russian oil companies in Ukraine, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said Wednesday.

KIEV, April 27 - President Viktor Yushchenko called on the government Wednesday to speed up diversification of the country's energy imports away from heavy reliance on Russia.

KIEV, April 27 - Naftogaz Ukrayiny, Ukraine??™s national oil and gas company, will seek the return to state ownership of a 70% stake in oil refinery Linos that is currently owned by Russian oil company TNK-BP, a Naftogaz official said Wednesday.