SIMFEROPOL, Dec. 24 – Crimean Prime Minister Anatoliy Mohyliov has said that the building in Crimea of a deepwater port together with Chinese investors, a document on which was signed during the visit by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to Beijing on December 5, is possible only after an environmental study is completed.

KIEV, Dec. 24 – President Viktor Yanukovych believes the opposition's protests on Independence Square in Kiev in support of closer integration with the European Union, known widely as Euromaidan, are a sign of the people's desire to live better.

KIEV, Dec. 24 – The process of modernization will continue in Ukraine next year, President Viktor Yanukovych has said at a meeting with the candidates for the positions of district state administration head.

KIEV, Dec. 25 – Parliament will adopt the state budget for 2014 on January 16, Speaker Volodymyr Rybak said.

"We gave MPs a chance to submit proposals to the draft budget by January 8. The budget committee will work after January 8, and on January 16 we will have to adopt the budget in full so that it could start working from February 1," he said at a press conference in Kiev on Wednesday.

KIEV, Dec. 25 - Two alleged assailants of journalist and activist Tetiana Chornovol were detained by police on Wednesday after opposition lawmakers recovered and released a car video that recorded the ferocious attack late Tuesday.

KIEV, Dec. 25 - The appointment of Serhiy Arbuzov as first deputy prime minister in the new Cabinet of Ministers is his preparation for premiership, says political analyst Vadym Karasiov.

KIEV, Dec. 25 - The latest reshuffle in the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry will not impact the country's foreign policy, ministry spokesman Oleh Voloshyn told Interfax.

KIEV, Dec. 25 - Ukraine’s Interior Ministry says one of its helicopters has crashed in the central part of the country, killing all 5 people on board, The Associated Press reported.

KIEV, Dec. 25 – It is impossible for Ukraine both to join the Customs Union and sign the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, the European Commission said.

KIEV, Dec. 25 – Ukraine’s economy is facing extremely tough environment in 2013 and it is a matter of “survival” for the government to spend money wisely next year, President Viktor Yanukovych said Tuesday.