KIEV, March 27 - Ukraine and Turkmenistan signed a preliminary agreement to clear $169.6 million debt for natural gas supplied in 2003-2005 allowing the two countries to resume cooperation in gas sector, Turkmen??™s state news agency TDH reported Monday.

The parties agreed that Ukraine will pay $88.3 million in cash immediately and the remaining $81.3 million in shipments of goods and commodities, such as steel pipes, during the next four months.