WSJ: Ukraine Vows to Boost Natural Gas Production

Ukraine will increase its natural gas production by as much as 25% in the next three years in order to wean itself off costly Russian supplies and wriggle free of Moscow's influence, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said in an interview.

On the eve of talks in Brussels Tuesday, he also accused European leaders of blocking Ukraine's efforts to integrate into the European Union over the jailing of an ex-prime minister.

The comments reflect the increasingly difficult balancing act for Ukraine's leadership as it attempts to steer the former Soviet Republic of some 46 million between its two powerful neighbors.  MORE (Registration required)