Here's a chance for the beleaguered president to restore some luster to his faded image by reassuming the role of a unifier and statesman.

The bitter energy dispute between Ukraine and Russia has been resolved in a comprehensive agreement that Kyiv and Moscow signed yesterday -- though there have been several false starts over the past three weeks. But if this latest pact holds, then by all accounts it is Russia that blinked first. While Ukraine's leaders will not crow about their success, Ukraine has pretty much gotten what it wanted: below-market rates for its own 2009 gas purchases.

Foreign Ministry: Fewer Ukrainians want to return from Palestine after suspension of combat operations there

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said fewer Ukrainian citizens are willing to evacuate from the Gaza Strip (the Palestinian Autonomy, Israel) after the suspension of combat operations in the region.

Vasyl Kyrylych, the head of the press service of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced this at a briefing on Monday.

January 19, 2009. Gazprom and Naftogaz Ukrainy signed a 10-year contract on the supply of gas to Ukraine and its transit to Europe . The CEOs of the two companies Aleksei Miller and Oleh Dubyna signed the agreement in the presence of the premiers of Russia and Ukraine - Vladimir Putin and Yulia Tymoshenko. In 2009 Ukraine will pay the average European price of gas with a 20% discount, while Russia will pay last year's transit fee of US $1.70 for 100  km.

And of course, Patriarch Volodymir of the UOC MP (Ukrainian Orthodox Church Moscow Patriarchate) further reinforces the Russo-centric interpretation of history as to the Kyivan origins of Russia (accepted in large measure throughout the world) and the secondary status of Ukrainians.

No doubt he is also anticipating the 1025th anniversary of conversion to Christianity of Kyivan Rus in 2013 and the right to don the mantle of supreme chief on that occasion.

Myroslava Oleksiuk - Ed.

KIEV, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko abandoned plans on Wednesday to hold an early parliamentary election this year and said officials should focus on coping with the effects of the global financial crisis.

Data showing industrial output plunged 19.8 percent year on year in October raised the prospect of a recession just one week after the International Monetary Fund finalised a $16.5 billion loan to bolster the country's financial and banking systems.