LONDON, Oct. 24 – Expressing a lack of confidence that Ukraine’s political leaders will form a consensus over economic policies, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has lowered its long-term foreign currency sovereign credit ratings on Ukraine to 'B' from 'B+', and its local currency ratings to 'B+' from 'BB-.’

KIEV, Oct. 24 – President Viktor Yushchenko is to make an official visit to Turkey on Oct. 27-28 to discuss bilateral cooperation, regional and international security and interaction within intergovernmental organizations.

KIEV, Oct. 26 – Ukraine’s political leaders will meet on Monday to try to agree on a single economic rescue package that must be approved in Parliament to prevent financial crisis triggering deep recession in the country.

KIEV, Oct. 26 – The National Bank of Ukraine will hold an emergency meeting on Monday to see whether to further widen the currency trading band reflecting a mounting downward pressure on the hryvnia.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 – The International Monetary Fund on Sunday announced the outline of a $16.5 billion loan agreement with Ukraine to help the country survive a major banking crisis and to support the faltering national currency, the hryvnia.

HELSINKI, Oct. 26 ??“ President Viktor Yushchenko has denied Ukraine made any political concessions to reach a deal with Russia on gas prices.

BRUSSELS, Oct. 26 - Speaking ahead of the EU-Ukraine summit scheduled for Friday, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Kiev has a European future, The Parliament, a European politics and policy newspaper, reported Thursday.

HELSINKI, Oct. 26 ??“ Ukraine can defend itself without any military help from Russia, President Viktor Yushchenko said Thursday, responding to comments from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had offered such assistance.

KIEV, Oct. 26 ??“ Petro Verbytskiy, Ukraine??™s bird flu Czar who unexpectedly submitted resignation last week, should be able to resume his duties soon, Yuriy Melnyk, the deputy prime minister for agriculture, said Wednesday.

KIEV, Oct. 26 ??“ The National Bank of Ukraine??™s top supervisory body agreed to measures that would keep foreign exchange market in control when about $4.8 bln in privatization proceeds arrives later this year.