KIEV, Feb. 29 - President Viktor Yanukovych appointed Yuriy Kolobov, the first deputy governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, a loyalist, as finance minister, further strengthening his personal control over the government.

KIEV, Feb. 29 – The European Union on Wednesday expressed “extreme disappointment” with the Foreign Ministry’s remarks attacking EU ambassador after he had criticized the government for creating a poor business climate in Ukraine.

KIEV, Feb. 25 – Batkivschyna Party leader and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said that she would like to hold talks with representatives of the International Monetary Fund and the Ukrainian opposition regarding plans by the authorities to repay the country's debt to RosUkrEnergo using an IMF loan.

KIEV, Feb. 25 – Over half of Ukrainians disapprove of the activities of Viktor Yanukovych during his first year of his presidency, according to a new poll.

The nationwide phone survey was conducted by Kiev-based Gorshenin Institute of Management Issues on February 14-23.

KIEV, Feb. 28 - Former State Material Reserve Committee Chairman Mykhailo Pozhyvanov has asked Austria to grant him political asylum.

KIEV, Feb. 28 – President Viktor Yanukovych’s administration has resumed pressure on Vasyl Onopenko, the head of the Supreme Court, and will seek his dismissal on March 11, a newspaper reported Monday, citing a source.

KIEV, Feb. 25 – A technical mission of the International Monetary Fund is to arrive in Ukraine on April 7, the Finance Ministry reported.

"The mission will work to prepare a new memorandum between Ukraine and the IMF," reads the report.

KIEV, Feb. 25 - Ukrainian political scientists are split in their opinions about whether or not economic reforms will be conducted under President Viktor Yanukovych.

KIEV, Feb. 26 - President Viktor Yanukovych, one day after his inauguration, met Parliamentary Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn on Friday and called for creation of a new governing coalition to start economic reforms.

KIEV, Feb. 27 – President Viktor Yanukovych will raise the issue of changing a key natural gas agreement with Russia when he travels to Moscow on March 5, a top Yanukovych aide said Saturday.