Russia Makes Moves for Ukraine's Naftogaz

Russia and Ukraine are expected to discuss several issues and possibly sign some major agreements at a bilateral economic forum Oct. 3-4. Russia's influence in Ukraine has increased since Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich took office, but Moscow has not yet been able to gain a larger stake in Naftogaz, Ukraine's state energy firm and the most strategic company in the country. A court ruling requiring Naftogaz to pay for natural gas siphoned off from another company in 2009 could change that, however.