A major progress in talks came late Wednesday after the Regions Party had indicated it was ready to support Yushchenko??™s pro-Western policy, including quick accession to NATO, an issue it had so far opposed.

Other key issues in the agreement, known as the Universal for National Unity, apparently stipulate the status of the Russian language would not be elevated in Ukraine as has been earlier demanded by the Regions Party. The Regions Party also abandoned its idea of turning Ukraine into a federal state with major powers to be granted to the regions.

Yushchenko was seeking to stop these controversial policy issues amid concerns they would encourage separatism in some of Ukrainian regions and could escalate tensions between the central and local governments.

???The agreement will bring answers to the unity of Ukraine,??? Yushchenko said. ???I am convinced that in reality nobody wants to split, nobody wants federalization and separatism.???

The agreement was preliminary signed by Yushchenko, Yanukovych, Parliamentary Speaker Oleksandr Moroz, Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov and Our Ukraine leader Roman Bezsmertniy. The parties are expected to officially sign the agreement on Thursday.

Analysts said it is unlikely for the Communist Party, a junior coalition partner of the Regions Party, to sign the agreement that anticipates Ukraine??™s quick accession to NATO.

This may lead to a situation when the Regions Party would need support for Our Ukraine, Yushchenko??™s party, to back major government initiatives.

This may create a new coalition, which would include the Regions Party and Our Ukraine, a grouping that has been favored by Western analysts as a force to support economic growth. (tl/ez)