KIEV, Nov. 26 - Despite huge influxes of foreign aid, Ukraine's wage arrears problem has continued to worsen.

According to the State Statistics Service, the overall sum of delayed wages in Ukraine grew by 3.3% in October alone.

THE HAGUE, Nov. 26 - Ukraine's president has strongly defended a pact his country signed with the European Union, calling it "the last farewell to the Soviet Union, the last farewell to Communism."

PARIS, Nov. 26 - Sanctions against Russia over its involvement in the Ukraine crisis could be lifted if Moscow fulfils commitments it made to help resolve the conflict, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said Wednesday.

MOSCOW, Nov. 25 – More than 55% of Russian citizens recently interviewed by the Levada Center believe that full-scale fighting will resume in eastern Ukraine after the ceasefire comes to an end, but they do not want Russia to get involved in the conflict.

KIEV, Nov. 25 – Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin will participate in the events organized by NATO headquarters in Brussels on the level of foreign ministers on December 2-3, Foreign Ministry spokesman Yevhen Perebyinis said.

KIEV, Nov. 26 - Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Tuesday evening had a telephone conversation with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the presidential press service reported.

KIEV, Nov. 26 - Russian forces are still operating in eastern Ukraine, providing the backbone of separatist rebels fighting the Kiev government, NATO's top military commander said on Wednesday after talks with Ukrainian leaders, Reuters reported.

KIEV, Nov. 25 - President Viktor Yanukovych said economic problems are the most difficult issues confronting Ukraine's European integration.

"We have passed a long way and we have yet to go a long distance. Economic problems have been the most difficult issues on this road," he said in an appeal to the nation, posted on his Web site.

BRUSSELS, Nov. 25 – European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso have criticized Russia for putting pressure on Ukraine.

OTTAWA, Nov. 26 - Parliament Speaker Volodymyr Rybak has called for the simplification of the visa regime with Canada for Ukrainians.