KIEV, June 5 - Marathon International Petroleum of the U.S. and Ukraine??™s national oil and gas company Naftogaz Ukrayiny on Tuesday signed an agreement to join forces in exploring for crude oil and natural gas in the eastern part of Ukraine.

Marathon International Petroleum Director Phil Behrman and Naftogaz Ukrayiny chairman Yevhen Bakulin signed the agreement to explore for oil and gas on the territory of 33,000 square kilometers over the next three years.