KIEV, April 4 ??“ President Viktor Yushchenko on Wednesday met leaders of several small pro-Western parties that seek to create a major pro-presidential and pro-Western bloc ahead of the early election due next month.

KIEV, April 4 ??“ Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych on Wednesday has somewhat softened his rhetoric in confrontation with President Viktor Yushchenko suggesting that his party may run at the early election next month.

KIEV, April 4 ??“ The Regions Party, which collected most of votes at the March 26 election, may agree to a prime minister from Our Ukraine if the two create a coalition, a party member said.

KIEV, April 4 ??“ Tensions between President Viktor Yushchenko and Parliament increased on Tuesday after lawmakers had refused to let judges assume their duties at the Constitutional Court. A group of opposition lawmakers, led by the Regions Party, resorted to blocking the session

KIEV, April 4 ??“ Ukraine??™s tariffs for public telecommunication services will probably soon be changed and will come into effect this year, Oleh Haiduk, the chairman of the National Communications Regulatory Commission said.

KIEV, April 4 ??“ The Ukrainian government will provide funds from the national budget to maintain the safety of the remaining reactors and the Shelter facility at Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

KIEV, April 4 ??“ The international rating agency Moody's Investors Service has assigned the issuer rating B2 to Kharkiv ??“ Ukraine's second city in terms of population (1.46 million people).

KIEV, April 1 - Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, a body that advises the president on strategic issues, will shortly meet to choose the most cost-effective of importing oil from Iraq, a senior official said.

KIEV, April 2 ??“ An array of bizarre accusations between former allies Thursday and Friday quickly undermined the credibility of a man who claims to have made sensitive tape recordings of then-President Leonid Kuchma.

KIEV, April 3 ??“ President Viktor Yushchenko expressed his ???deep sorrow??? at the death of Pope John Paul II and remembered his efforts at promoting peace throughout the world.