KIEV, Oct. 7 – President Viktor Yushchenko on Wednesday nominated Petro Poroshenko, a pro-Western figure and once his closest ally, as Ukraine’s new foreign minister, according to papers submitted to Parliament.

KIEV, Oct. 6 – Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown have made a joint statement to the press in which they confirmed bilateral cooperation on a number of questions.

KIEV, Oct. 7 – Ukraine should take urgent steps to restrict imports and to encourage exports to cut its trade deficit among other measures to ease downward pressure on the hryvnia, a National Bank of Ukraine official said Tuesday.

KIEV, Oct. 7 – The National Bank of Ukraine, at an emergency meeting Tuesday, widened its 2008 currency trading band dramatically as the hryvnia continued its freefall against the U.S. dollar, triggering panic.

KIEV, Oct. 7 – President Viktor Yushchenko invited leaders of political groups to his office on Wednesday for “consultations,” a step that immediately precedes a decree dismissing Parliament and calling early elections.

KIEV, Oct. 5 – Five parties will enter Parliament following the snap Sept. 30 election, the Central Election Committee finally announced on Friday after completing counting 100% of ballots.

KIEV, Oct. 6 – President Viktor Yushchenko, stressing on the importance of avoiding confrontation in the new Parliament, on Saturday again urged two pro-Western parties to reach a compromise agreement with the rival Regions Party.

KYIV, Sept 6 – At a meeting on Tuesday, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Transport and Infrastructure recommended adopting bill No. 0217 on the ratification of the intergovernmental agreement with the Republic of Moldova on the construction of the Yampilsky Bridge across the Dniester River, for which UAH 5.04 million is supposed to be allocated from the state budget.

KYIV, Sept 7 – Japan's financial, humanitarian and technical assistance to Ukraine has already exceeded $7.6 billion, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk said.

KYIV, Sept 7 – Newly appointed Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said he will seek a bigger role for the ministry as well as expand the international coalition in support of Ukraine as his top priorities.