KIEV, Jan. 9 - The first group of European Union monitors arrived in Ukraine on Friday in an effort to unblock Russian natural gas supplies via the Ukrainian pipelines suspended since early Wednesday, the government reported.

KIEV, Jan. 9 - Ukraine’s natural gas pipelines operate in a “stable” mode despite the suspension of Russian gas supplies to the European Union, a top official at Naftogaz Ukrayiny, the state gas company, said Thursday.

KIEV, Jan. 10 - Ukraine will seek to integrate its natural gas transportation system into the European Union’s gas sector to avoid future confrontations with Russia, President Viktor Yushchenko said late Friday.

KIEV, Jan. 11 – Ukraine on Sunday signed an agreement allowing Russian experts to join the European Union’s monitors inspecting Ukrainian gas pipelines, a condition imposed by Moscow for resuming gas supplies to the European Union.

KIEV, Jan. 11 ??“ A former police chief who was accused of ordering a crackdown on peaceful demonstrators during the Orange Revolution two years ago was Wednesday appointed deputy internal affairs minister, lawmakers said Thursday.

ASTANA, Jan. 11 ??“ Ukraine is close to signing an agreement with Kazakhstan opening way for exploration and extraction of crude oil and natural gas from lucrative oil and gas fields, an official said. Ukraine may get access to fields estimated to contain 100 mln metric tons of oil

ASTANA, Jan. 11 ??“ Russia will boost by 10% natural gas shipments to Europe via Ukrainian pipelines this year, President Viktor Yushchenko said Wednesday after meeting his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

KIEV, Jan. 11 ??“ Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov on Wednesday challenged a powerful political coalition that had dismissed his government Tuesday by de-facto refusing to accept results of the no-confidence vote.

KIEV, Jan. 11 ??“ The central bank was forced to sell dollars on forex market Wednesday after the hryvnia had faced downward pressure reacting to Parliament??™s Tuesday vote dismissing the government, an official said.

BRUSSELS, Jan. 11 ??“ Ukraine will seek getting clear prospects for membership in the European Union following its biter natural gas supply dispute with Russia, Roman Shpek, Ukraine's representative to the EU, said Wednesday.