The two can therefore work in tandem — the good cop and the bad cop. The bad cop will clearly set the pace. And if Mr Medvedev has any mind to challenge this arrangement, there are plenty of Putin loyalists

Should coalition fulfill its conditions

In case of further political reprisals

President holds meeting with Speaker, PM

The standoff echoes a pricing dispute in January 2006, when Gazprom turned off all Ukrainian exports of natural gas for three days, causing volumes to fall in the European Union. About a fifth of Russian natural gas supplies to Europe

Before the end of September 2008, Ukraine and Belgium will sign a roadmap of cooperation for coming years, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ohryzko told the press

National joint stock company Naftogaz of Ukraine received on Monday new proposals from Russia's Gazprom natural gas monopoly concerning gas talks, Naftogaz of Ukraine press center reported

The Cabinet of Ministers instructed the State Tax Administration to provide the Naftogaz of Ukraine NJSC and its affiliates UkrTransGaz, Gaz of Ukraine and UkrGazVydobuvannia with instalments on income tax and VAT payment based on the results of the enterprises'

The State Budget has gained some UAH 291,461 million from privatization since early 2008, the State Property Fund reported

According to preliminary estimates of the State Statistics Committee of Ukraine, GDP grew by a real 7.3% year-over-year (yoy) to about UAH 700 billion ($140 billion), notably exceeding the 6.5% yoy growth expected at the beginning of the year...

20 kilometers of the Black Sea coast are polluted with fuel oil in the Kherson Region

The town-planning council of Kyiv ordered to decrease a number of storeys in the new building project planned to be built on Streletskaya Street, 10/1

President Viktor Yushchenko held a weekly meeting today with Verkhovna Rada Speaker Arseniy Yatsenyuk and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. The meeting was dedicated to budgetary policy, especially to introduction of modifications to State Budget Law 2008. Defense Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov,

Belgium supports european aspiration of Ukraine, but considers that Ukraine has to do much to join the EU. Foreign Minister of Belgium Karep de Gucht stated that today at the joint press conference with Ukraine's Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ohryzko. "We

The reduction in gas supplies will not affect gas supplies to either Ukrainian or EU consumers, Fuel and Energy Minister Yuriy Prodan said Monday, ForUm reports referring to Cabinet press office. On Monday Russian gas monopoly Gazprom informed the affiliate

This is what Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko told a budget policy meeting today. Yushchenko emphasized that the authority must form its vision of optimization of the 2008 budget, particularly, with regard for the results of 2007.

This was disclosed by Head Valentyn Zemlyanskyi of the NaftoGaz of Ukraine PR Department. A new telegram has been received lately saying the gas supplies reduced by another 10 percent to 46 million of cubic meters, he said.

Russian gas monopoly Gazprom has informed the affiliate company of Naftogaz of Ukraine, Ukrtransgaz, about reducing gas supplies to Ukraine by 30 million cu. m. per day due to Ukraine's debt not fully settled for the gas supplied in 2007.

This was aired by leader of the opposition Party of Regions Viktor Yanukovych. Another priority issue to be debated by the parliament, Mr. Yanukovych said, include the reduction of gas supplies by 25 percent by Russia's Gazprom to Ukraine.

According to the VR press service,the meeting of the parliament committees and factions' conciliatory council was postponed after the Party of Regions' faction violated the agreements achieved by the working group set up to unblock the Verkhovna Rada's work.