19:00 Ukraine's parliament does not want anti-Russian transit alliance
The majority of the Ukrainian parliament does not support the idea of establishing an anti-Russian transit union of countries proposed by the Lithuanian President and backed by the Ukrainian President. The grouping could also potentially be joined by Belarus.
The initiative has been felt as a strike against Moscow, said Vasil Khara, the deputy chief of the Party of the Regions faction.
Thus, "the union of the three" proposed to ensure an energy security of Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania and independence from Russia seems to remain just a good intention. It is expected that Viktar Yuschenko and Aliaksandr Lukashenka will discuss the matter during their planned meeting in Kiev.
The date of Lukashenka's visit has not been officially confirmed yet, but the media reports suggest that the talks are to take place on February 26.
