Although some Regions Party lawmakers have been suggesting the talks may still resume, Our Ukraine had ordered its ministers to submit resignations next week.

Our Ukraine, a pro-Western group, has been seeking to pull out of the government after Yanukovych had sought to change the country??™s pro-Western foreign policy towards closer ties with Russia. Yanukovych, during his visit to Brussels last month, said Ukraine will indefinitely postpone accession to NATO.

Yanukovych has been apparently seeking to please Russia, which views NATO as a military threat, in order to win a better deal for natural gas imports as Ukraine has become entirely dependent on gas supplies from Russia or via its gas pipelines.

Russia used its energy monopoly in January by completely suspending gas supplies to Ukraine citing a price dispute, a move that had led to repercussions throughout Europe.

Yushchenko agreed on Wednesday that unless the Regions Party moves to implement the national unity pact, Our Ukraine ministers, such as Healthcare Minister, Youth and Sports Minister, Culture Minister and Justice Minister, must resign.

But Yushchenko??™s agreement to also replace Tarasiuk and Hrytsenko, the two ministers the president is allowed to nominate by the constitution, indicate the Regions Party is close to entirely controlling the government. (tl/ez)