KIEV, Dec. 22 - Ukraine has refocused its natural gas talks on Turkmenistan Thursday, apparently trying to arrange extra gas purchases next year to help the country weather a possible move by Russia to cut gas supplies.

President Viktor Yushchenko phoned his Turkmeni counterpart Separmurat Niyazov on Thursday, Yushchenko's press service reported. No details of the talks had been provided, but the press service said "the parties reached a preliminary agreement to boost cooperation in the energy sector."