KIEV, Nov. 7 - President Viktor Yushchenko met his top security advisor, foreign and energy ministers on Wednesday, hours ahead of a crucial round of talks with Russia over 2008 natural gas prices.

Ivan Pliushch, the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Arseniy Yatseniuk, the foreign minister, and Yuriy Boyko, the energy and fuel minister, met to map out strategy at the upcoming talks.