KIEV, May 12 ??“ Ukraine??™s economy continued strong performance in April defying a major increase in natural gas prices earlier this year, figures released by Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov on Friday suggest.

The economy expanded 3.5% on the year in April, compared with 4% growth in March, 2.2% in February and O.9% in January, Yekhanurov said citing figures from the State Statistics Committee.