KIEV, May 16 - Ukraine??™s rampant imports this year have been widening the country??™s trade deficit to ???critical??? level, Anatoliy Kinakh, the top security advisor to President Viktor Yushchenko, said Tuesday.

Ukraine??™s trade deficit increased to $1.7 billion in the first quarter, reaching the level of the trade deficit recorded for the entire year of 2005, he said.