KIEV, March 28 – Ukraine should consider joining Russia and Belarus in creating the Union State, an entity that may challenge the European Union, Volodymyr Semynozhenko, deputy prime minister for humanitarian issues, said Sunday.

BAKU, March 28 - Transportation of oil by the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic (SOCAR) through the Odesa-Brody pipeline may become attractive if the company acquires a refinery in Ukraine, Azeri Industry and Energy Minister Natik Aliyev said Wednesday.

KIEV, March 28 ??“ Foreign Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk has discussed with his Armenian counterpart Vartan Oskanian the state and prospects of developing bilateral ties.

KIEV, March 28 ??“ Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, accompanied by a large delegation of ministers, will make another working visit to Donetsk region on Thursday, according to the press service of the government.

Yanukovych is scheduled to visit the Khartsyzsk pipe plant to familiarize himself with its production facilities and to attend the ceremonial opening of a new line for the production of electric-welded pipes at the plant.

KIEV, March 28 ??“ Internal Affairs Minister Vasyl Tsushko is apparently facing a dismissal following a series of unsolved contract killings in Ukraine, most recently the murder of Russian businessman Maksim Kurochkin on Tuesday.

KIEV, March 28 ??“ Tensions between political groups have been building up on Wednesday amid speculations that President Viktor Yushchenko has been preparing to sign a decree to dismiss Parliament.

KIEV, March 28 ??“ Ukraine will seek to resume direct imports of natural gas from Turkmenistan starting from July following a suspension of gas supplies since the year??™s beginning

KIEV, March 28 ??“ Azerbaijan will seek to join a project of building a pipeline that would move Central Asian and Middle Eastern natural gas to Europe bypassing Russia, an Azeri official said Tuesday.

KIEV, March 28 ??“ A group loyal to former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych has been emerging as the winner of election to local Parliament in Crimea, Ukraine??™s autonomous region, that may potentially strain relations with Kiev.

KIEV, March 28 ??“ Parties, two days after general election in Ukraine, have been increasingly drifting towards a coalition that would re-create an alliance that had helped Viktor Yushchenko to win the presidency in December 2004.