KIEV, July 3 - Energy and Fuel Minister Ivan Plachkov will lead a Ukrainian government team for talks with Russia later this week over natural gas supplies and prices, officials said Monday.

KIEV, July 3 ??“ Talks at ending a standoff in Parliament were postponed on Monday after the Regions Party, an opposition group, had suddenly issued new demands now seeking greater concessions from the pro-government coalition.

KIEV, June 30 - France and the Netherlands' recent refusal to back the draft European constitution has not alienated Ukraine from the European Union, Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council Secretary Petro Poroshenko told Interfax in an exclusive interview.

LONDON, June 30 - International rating agency Fitch Ratings has assigned the city of Kharkiv long-term foreign and local currency 'B+' ratings and with a stable outlook, and short-term 'B' rating, reads a Fitch press release carried by Interfax-Ukraine.

KIEV, June 30 ??“ The International Consortium for the Control and Development of the Gas Transportation System of Ukraine Ltd. Says it will not exert control over the existing gas-transport system of Ukraine.

KIEV, June 30 ??“ The Ukrainian State Committee for nuclear regulation and the Chinese national administration of nuclear safety have signed an agreement on the exchange of technical information and cooperation in nuclear safety and radiation protection.

KIEV, June 30 - President Viktor Yushchenko signed a decree on Thursday lifting visa requirements for U.S. citizens on entry to Ukraine, the presidential press service reported.

KIEV, June 30 ??“ The National Bank of Ukraine Thursday amended its foreign exchange rate forecast, predicting the hryvnia will be 3% stronger against the U.S. dollar this year than had been previously thought, an official said.

KIEV, June 30 ??“ Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko expressed concern on Thursday over the adequacy of Ukraine??™s natural gas supplies for this year and said the government will hold a special meeting within days to look into the problem.

KYIV, June 3 – The Ministry of Finance and the National Bank of Ukraine, having reached a staff-level agreement (SLA) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the fourth review of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement, expect its approval by the IMF Executive Board and have access to the $2.2 billion fifth disbursement in the coming weeks.