* The Russian prime minister urged government agencies to keep inflation in check after the cabinet approved a bill to increase budget spending in 2005
* Ukraine's new prime minister said his government did not plan any further re-privatization
* LUKoil, Russia's largest oil producer, said it planned to start direct oil exports to China late this year or early next year
* British Ambassador to Russia Tony Brenton said Russia and the EU could sign an agreement on simplifying visa regulations in October in London
* LUKoil, and American oil major ConocoPhillips set up a joint group to acquire new assets in Russia and abroad
