KIEV, April 3 ??“ Performance by small parties at early election next month will be crucial to indicate whether Ukraine??™s next government will pursue a pro-Western or pro-Russian policy, an opinion poll showed Tuesday.

KIEV, April 3 ??“ President Viktor Yushchenko told Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych on Tuesday that the decree to dismiss Parliament is ???irreversible??? and urged him to prepare Ukraine for the new election next month.

KIEV, April 3 - Fitch Ratings said the escalation of tensions between political groups in Ukraine will probably increase political risks in the country in the near future.

BRUSSELS, April 3 ??“ The European Commission called on Ukraine??™s political groups to cooperate to overcome the political crisis, a news agency reported Tuesday.

KIEV, April 3 ??“ Vneshtorgbank, or VTB, a state-owned Russian bank, plans to invest up to $1 billion to develop its Ukrainian bank it had acquired earlier this year for $70 million, an official said Monday.

KIEV, April 3 ??“ Socialist Party leader Oleksandr Moroz on Monday rejected a plan for a coalition agreement that had been suggested by Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov, and called for acceleration of talks.

KIEV, April 3 ??“ President Viktor Yushchenko will join a Parliamentary session on Tuesday as lawmakers are expected to vote on lifting immunity from local council deputies and possibly to swear in Constitutional Court judges.

KIEV, April 3 ??“ BNP Paribas, a French bank, has agreed to purchase 1 billion hryvnias in 10-year bonds that are to be issued by Ukraine??™s State Mortgage Authority, a newspaper reported Monday citing an authority official.

KIEV, April 3 ??“ EnergoAtom, the state-owned nuclear power generator, plans to commission the first storage pump at Tashlykska Hydro Power Battery Plant in operation within the next three months, the government??™s press service said Monday.

KIEV, March 31 ??“ President Viktor Yushchenko called on foreign oil and gas companies Thursday to invest in Ukrainian oil and gas projects to boost domestic extraction of energy.