KIEV, April 9 – Joining a Russia-led trade bloc would reduce Ukraine’s independence and should be avoided at all costs, Arseniy Yatseniuk, a former parliamentary speaker and now an opposition leader, said Friday.

KIEV, April 10 – By an overwhelming margin, Ukraine’s parliament voted across party lines on Thursday to ratify the protocol on Ukraine’s accession to the World Trade Center.

KIEV, April 10 – Ukraine sent a diplomatic note to Russia seeking an urgent explanation of recent comments made by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that have been characterized as challenging the country’s independence.

KIEV, April 10 – Our Ukraine-People’s Self-defense, President Viktor Yushchenko’s group, called for an urgent meeting with its coalition partner, the group led by Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, as tensions between the two groups began escalating.

KIEV, April 9 - The Cabinet of Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko does not have a well-planned substantial anti-inflation policy, director of the Institute for Global Strategies Vadym Karasiov said.

KIEV, April 10 ??“ Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, the leader of the largest opposition group, said Tuesday her party will run separately with President Viktor Yushchenko??™s Our Ukraine at the early election later this year.

KIEV, April 10 ??“ President Viktor Yushchenko on Tuesday said he was ready to negotiate a different date for early general election to make sure that parties have enough time to prepare for the vote.

KIEV, April 10 ??“ Five judges of the Constitutional Court on Tuesday asked for protection after reporting mounting pressure from undisclosed political groups in the case that may have ended sharp political crisis in Ukraine.

MOSCOW, April 10 - Ukraine may join the World Trade Organization (WTO) earlier than Russia, Maxim Medvedkov, Russia??™s chief trade negotiator, said Tuesday.

KIEV, April 10 ??“ President Viktor Yushchenko met National Bank of Ukraine Governor Volodymyr Stelmakh Monday to discuss stability of the local currency as the hryvnia has been persistently facing a downward pressure against the dollar.