DONETSK, Aug. 22 – Privatization in the coal sector and the final reformation of the coal industrial market will be finished by late 2014, President Viktor Yanukovych said.
"Everything has to be done under the full control of labor collectives and the trade unions. I'd like to emphasize that no coal mine can be closed unjustifiably. The retaining of the existing fund of promising operating coalmines is a top-priority vector of state policy," the head of state said at the All-Ukrainian Meeting on the occasion of Miner Day in Donetsk.

BRUSSELS, Aug. 22 – The United States congratulates Ukraine on the 22nd anniversary of its independence and notes Washington's support for Kiev in meeting conditions of the European Union that are obligatory for signing an Association Agreement.

KIEV, Aug. 23 – The participants of a free trade area within the Commonwealth of Independent States cannot expel Ukraine from the community, but they can leave the free trade area and apply sanctions to the country, said Viktor Suslov, Ukraine's representative in the Eurasian Economic Commission.

KIEV, Aug. 24 - President Viktor Yanukovych on Saturday re-affirmed his commitment to signing key agreements with the European Union, including on trade, despite a threat by Russia's Vladimir Putin of possible retaliatory measures, Reuters reported.

KIEV, Aug. 26 – Russia and Ukraine failed to find compromises at trade talks on Monday, increasing the possibility of a massive trade war between the two countries later this year.

KIEV, Aug. 22 – The Batkivschyna United Opposition has demanded that the Prosecutor General's Office investigate the corrupt connections of companies that obtained Ukrainian gas distribution networks from the government.

KIEV, Aug. 22 – President Viktor Yanukovych has signed law No. 5180-VI on amendments to the transitive provisions of the Tax code on the specifics of collecting the profit tax from companies providing hospitality services.

KIEV, Aug. 23 – The Foreign Ministry has reached agreement in principle on the liberalization of a visa travel with Cyprus, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kostiantyn Hryschenko wrote in Twitter on Thursday.

KHARKIV, Aug. 23 – A rise in wages and pensions should be based on the real growth of the economy, President Viktor Yanukovych said.

"This year we saw an increase of over 15% in the average wage in Ukraine with virtually zero inflation.

KIEV, Aug. 25 – Ukraine indicated on Saturday that it may soften its stance towards Russia-backed regional organizations and was also ready to make changes to its position in talks over natural gas prices.