The President Viktor Yushchenko charged the Cabinet of Ministry with holding negotiations with Gazprom (Russian oil and gas company) concerning signing till March 31 long-term contracts on gas supply to Ukraine and transit of Russian gas to Europe.

That’s what Yushchenko stated at meeting with journalists in Crimea.

The president also noticed that Ukraine had accumulated 2 milliard dollars debt since Jan 1 for the gas supplied and that the cabinet could not give answer in which way those debts would be paid off.

On March 19 the Cabinet of Ministry affirmed agreements between Naftohaz Ukrainy and Gazprom on gas supply having given some hints and charged Naftohaz Ukrainy to hold additional talks taking into account the hints.

Also the cabinet charged Naftohaz Ukrainy with starting negotiations with Gazprom concerning signing long-term contracts on gas supply to Ukraine and transit of Russian gas to Europe.