KIEV, March 18 - The government will meet on Wednesday to approve a natural gas deal reached last week between Russian gas giant Gazprom and Naftogaz Ukrayiny, according to an announcement by the government’s press service.

The deal, reached Feb. 13, averted complications between Gazprom and Naftogaz that could threaten stability of Russian gas supplies to the European Union.

The government’s approval of the deal is crucial for its implementation.