PRAGUE, March 27 - Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said Tuesday the country will support Ukraine's bids to join the European Union (EU) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) following a meeting with Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Mykola Azarov in Prague.

SEVASTOPOL, March 27 ??“ The Russian Black Sea Fleet ship Caesar Kunikov, a large amphibious landing ship on Monday accidentally fired one of its guns, a news agency reported Tuesday.

MOSCOW, March 27 ??“ Russian Ambassador to Ukraine Viktor Chernomyrdin said more Russian businesses should invest in Ukraine, but warned that the country??™s accession to NATO would sever economic and trade ties.

KIEV, March 27 - President Viktor Yushchenko signed a bill of amendments to the national budget for 2007, the presidential press service said on Tuesday.

BRUSSELS, March 27 - The European Union is offering to negotiate a free trade pact with Ukraine, as it seeks to build closer political and economic ties with the country without offering it the prospect of full membership in the bloc.

KIEV, March 27 ??“ President Viktor Yushchenko on Tuesday accused the government of using intimidation to force opposition lawmakers to join the coalition, and warned such practice if continued may trigger dismissal of Parliament.

KIEV, March 27 - A Russian businessman once allied with Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych was shot dead by a sniper on Tuesday as he was being escorted from a Kiev courthouse by police, officials said.

WASHINGTON, March 27 - The White House said Monday that legislative elections in Ukraine appeared to have been "free and fair" and contrasted starkly with those recently held in Belarus.

KIEV, March 27 ??“ Leonid Chernovetskiy, a liberal lawmaker and a member of Our Ukraine, has been emerging as a winner in Kiev mayor election Sunday defeating incumbent Oleksandr Omelchenko, according to vote counting data released Monday.

KIEV, March 27 ??“ President Viktor Yushchenko invited leaders of major political groups to his office on Tuesday for talks seeking to forge a coalition that would be able to continue economic reforms.