HUNGARIAN PREMIER VISITS UKRAINE. Viktor Orban on 25 February assured his Ukrainian counterpart, Viktor Yushchenko, that Hungary will not impose visas on Ukrainians until it enters the EU. Both premiers stressed the importance of improving bilateral economic ties. Yushchenko said Hungary is "Ukraine's main partner in Eastern Europe." VG

UKRAINIAN PREMIER DENIES RUSSIAN CLAIMS. Yushchenko on 25 February said that Ukraine has not agreed to hand over leading enterprises to Russia in payment of gas debts, Interfax reported. Yushchenko also rejected Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov's claim that he has presented a list of enterprises Russia would be willing to accept as debt payment. VG

UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER SAYS REFERENDUM UNCONSTITUTIONAL. Ivan Plyushch said on 25 February that the 16 April referendum on no confidence in the parliament does not comply with the constitution, ITAR-TASS reported. He said the country is not ready for new elections. A group of 108 lawmakers have asked the Constitutional Court to examine President Leonid Kuchma's decree on the referendum. VG