31.   They have also expressed concerns that Ukraine might seek NATO membership, but Ukrainian leaders have repeatedly denied such plans.

32.   Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma and others quickly denied such plans, although many Ukrainian leaders have warmed to NATO in recent months.

33.   Ukrainian leaders have repeatedly rejected this demand.

34.   Ukrainian leaders have suggested former Foreign Minister Hennady Udovenko as a possible mediator.

35.   Ukrainian leaders say they want to maintain close ties with the West and NATO.

36.   Ukrainian ultra-nationalist leader Andriy Shkil was released Friday from a Kiev jail after earning legal immunity with his election to parliament last month.

37.   Ukrainian leaders have urged the IMF to soften its lending conditions, saying the cash-poor country is unlikely to implement them.

38.   Ukrainian leaders stressed their unequivocal desire to accelerate integration of the former Soviet republic into the EU.

39.   Ukrainian leaders were not assured.

40.   Ukrainian communist leaders protested Wednesday against U.S. airstrikes on Afghanistan and urged the government to close its airspace to American aircraft in the anti-terrorism campaign.