Russian news media reported yesterday that Ukraine was determined to build a new pro-Western economic bloc that would speed Caspian oil to the West and spell the end of a Moscow-led bloc comprising Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine.

The reports were denied by Ukraine. Talks that took place on the weekend between the leaders of Georgia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine could be expected to lead to a the creation of a Western-oriented "Community of Democratic Choice," Russian newspapers said. This new axis was aimed at creating a "corridor by which Caspian oil will flood into Europe," bypassing Russia, Gazeta said.