KIEV, Aug. 28 - Ukraine is facing weak external demand for steel, its main export, forcing the government to stimulate domestic demand with new housing construction and other projects, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said Tuesday.

The projects, which mostly include construction of affordable housing and cheaper mortgages, are designed to help Ukraine to avoid the type of crisis that hit the country in 2008-2009.

“The situation with the world economy remains to be tough and demand for our products has been weakening,” Azarov said in remarks released by the government.