KIEV, Nov. 10 - Ukraine must cooperate with both Russia and the European Union, for ensuring safe and secure long-term supplies of natural gas in the region, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said Wednesday.

KIEV, Nov. 10 - President Viktor Yanukovych’s administration is much less optimistic now than two months ago about Ukraine’s chances of signing free trade and visa-free travel accords with the European Union.

KIEV, Nov. 10 – President Viktor Yushchenko’s office on Monday accused Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko of refusing to disclose details of ongoing talks with Russia over natural gas supplies and prices in 2009.

Andriy Honcharuk, the deputy chief of staff at the Yushchenko office, said the government has been frequently ignoring “directives” from the president concerning the talks.

KIEV, Nov. 10 – Ukraine received the first payment of $4.5 billion from the International Monetary Fund as part of its emergency loan to support the country’s banking system and currency, Finance Minister Viktor Pynzenyk said Monday.

KIEV, Nov. 7 – Some of Ukraine's corporate external debt is from the banks' parents in European countries and a large part of this debt is actually intra-company loans, IMF Mission Chief for Ukraine Ceyla Pazarbasioglu said.

KIEV, Nov. 10 – “Underlying” inflation in Ukraine in October slowed to 1.3%, down from 1.5% in September, the State Statistics Committee reported.

KIEV, Nov. 10 ??“ Ukraine??™s foreign trade deficit with goods widened dramatically in September amid increasing imports of energy, while exports had continued to be depressed by strong hryvnia and weak steel prices, data suggested.

KIEV, Nov. 10 - Ukraine??™s third biggest producer of natural gas, ChornomorNaftoGaz, has completed construction of a 4-km natural gas pipeline in Crimea adding 4,500 new customers, the company said Thursday.

KIEV, Nov. 10 ??“ President Viktor Yushchenko indicated Thursday that Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov, not him, should formally lead Our Ukraine party in the crucial general election in March 2006.

KIEV, Nov. 10 ??“ Ukrsotsbank is going to issue loan participation notes worth $150 mln in mid-2006, Ukrsotsbank Governor Borys Timonkin told reporters.