Kiev  - Manufacturing in the former Soviet republic of Ukraine is down by nearly a third over 2008 indicators, but recent data gives hope an economic turnaround is in sight, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said Monday.

"Practically in all sectors with the exception of energy we already are registering positive growth, and some industries are up as much as 20 per cent," she claimed, in comments reported by Interfax.

Kiev  - Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko cancelled a trip to Moscow on Wednesday for last-ditch negotiations to avoid gas cuts by Gazprom on January 1 if Kiev fails to pay down a 2-billion dollar debt before midnight.

"There are enough specialists from (Ukraine's) Naftogaz undertaking negotiations in Moscow for the signing of a future gas contract," the Ukrainian government said in a statement to news agency Interfax.

Moscow  - Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko will fly to Moscow on Wednesday in last-gasp talks to avoid gas cuts to Ukraine ahead of a midnight deadline set by Gazprom for the settlement of a 2-billion-dollar debt.

"The embassy confirms that Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is coming to Moscow on Wednesday for the final stage of the negotiations over Gazprom issues," Interfax news agency quoted Ukraine's embassy in Moscow as saying.