KIEV, Dec. 22 – The Prosecutor General's Office has informed relevant EU agencies over investigations into former authorities, against whom sanctions were imposed by the EU, Ukrainian Prosecutor General Vitaliy Yarema said.

KIEV, Dec. 23 - The situation in Ukraine will be a priority during the Serbian presidency of the OSCE, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said.

"Unfortunately, Ukraine is a priority issue for the next year. I say 'unfortunately,' because I sympathize in connection with the events that are happening in the east of Ukraine," he told reporters after talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin.

KIEV, Dec. 24 - The Cabinet of Ministers suggests that the tax on obligatory state pension insurance, paid by buyers of cash foreign currency, be increased from 0.5% to 2% in 2015, while non-cash foreign exchange operations will be exempt from taxation.

SIMFEROPOL, Dec. 24 - Russia and Ukraine have signed a contract which provides for the supply of Crimea with electricity produced in Russia through the territory of Ukraine, the head of the Republic of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov said.

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.