Since Ukraine declared independence in 1991, Hawrylyshyn has been an advisor to several Ukrainian prime ministers, as well as to most chairmen of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada.

On June 14, 2007 during an EU Defence Ministers' meeting, Lithuanian, Polish and Ukrainian ministers agreed to create a multinational unit.

Former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko signed a contract in 2009 which obliges Ukraine to pay $388 (£250) per 1,000 cubic metres.

The final multinational military exercise in Yavoriv was attended by the Ukrainian and Polish ministers of defense.

Those were the agreements for which former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko was convicted.

"People come and tell us, look here, Europe is uniting and you're disuniting," said Viktor I. Antonov, the Ukrainian minister for the defense complex and military conversion.

He succeeded Ralph Klein (1992-2006), who had cabinets with many Ukrainian ministers.

The Ukrainian prime minister said the Pentagon explanation "had a right to exist."

Mr. Yekhanurov, the Ukrainian prime minister, said the higher prices would impel industry in his country to become more energy efficient, perhaps heightening the pace of modernization at Soviet-era factories.

PSPU was a vocal opponent of President Leonid Kuchma but supported Viktor Yanukovych, Ukrainian prime minister since 2002, during the 2004 elections.