KIEV, Dec. 28 - President Viktor Yushchenko met key government officials and top security advisors Wednesday exploring Ukraine's options of appealing to the world's nuclear powers in response to the escalating natural gas dispute with Russia.

The meeting, which included Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov, is the second day in a row of emergency discussions as Yushchenko seeks ways of reacting to the unfolding gas dispute with Russia.