Ukraine Calls In The Cavalry.

Prime Minister Yurii Yekhanurov held a closed-door meeting with ambassadors from Britain, France, Germany and the United States yesterday. According to several media sources Yekhanurov asked the countries honour a 1994 agreement to defend Ukraine from economic attack.  Moreover, President Viktor Yushchenko held meetings with the Cabinet and members of the Rada to discuss Ukraine’s next move. In related news, the Head of the State Property Fund (SPF) Valentina Semenuyk, announced that the SPF would be taking inventory of its property being leased to the Russian Black Sea Fleet and begin reviewing the lease agreement. Concorde Capital:  Russia has been trying to back Ukraine into a corner in the gas dispute, and it looks like Yushchenko has decided to strike back.  The 1994 agreement requires Britain, France, Germany and the USA to defend Ukraine from military and economic attacks; in return Ukraine handed over its nuclear arsenal. Following the President’s meeting with the Cabinet and Rada faction leaders, Yekhanorov said that Ukraine might take its case to an international arbitration court in Stockholm. The SPF’s move comes in response to Yushchenko’s statement that Ukraine would seek to put all its contracts with Russia in line with European price levels.