KIEV, Dec. 12 ??“ Oleksiy Ivchenko was re-appointed as the head of Naftogaz Ukrayiny, the national oil and gas company, on Monday, following a quick shuffle in the government, the Cabinet of Ministers reported.

Ivchenko, an important figure in natural gas talks with Russia, has been holding two positions, at Naftogaz and as the first deputy energy and fuel minister. Yushchenko??™s decree relieved him of both posts Friday.