KIEV, Jan. 4 - Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko promised that Ukraine would maintain normal supplies of natural gas for its domestic and foreign customers despite national oil and gas company Naftogaz being, in her words, "on the verge of bankruptcy."

"We will prevent any irregularity and will be doing everything to prevent any instability being felt either in Europe or Ukraine," Tymoshenko told reporters after meeting with new Naftogaz chief Oleh Dubyna.