KYIV, Dec 21 - The weakening of the hryvnia in recent days is due to an increase in demand for foreign currency, said Deputy Head of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) Serhiy Nikolaychuk.

BRUSSELS, Dec 21 - The European Union on Thursday paid the final tranche of a multibillion-euro support package to Ukraine to help keep its war-ravaged economy afloat this year, leaving the country without a financial lifeline from Europe as of next month.

MOSCOW, Dec. 24 - Ukraine 's rating has climbed after the agreements signed with Russia and it helped the country emerge from economic crisis, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has said.

KIEV, Dec. 24 - Russia told Ukraine on Tuesday it had transferred the first $3 billion tranche of a $15 billion bailout, part of plans to keep Kiev firmly within Moscow 's orbit and out of the European Union's embrace, Reuters reported.

KIEV, Dec. 24 – The International Monetary Fund said the government of President Viktor Yanukovych had largely abandoned much-needed economic reforms after accepting $15 billion in loan from Russia , The New York Times reported.

KIEV, Dec. 24 – A series of coordinated assassination attempts targeted key activists of anti-government protests across Ukraine on Tuesday raising questions about the role of the authorities in the attacks.

KIEV, Dec. 24 – President Viktor Yanukovych says he expects newly appointed Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara to aim the country's foreign policy at assistance to Ukrainian companies on foreign markets.

KIEV, Dec. 24 – President Viktor Yanukovych on Monday appointed the Cabinet of Ministers, mostly promoting to key positions people loyal to his family, a sign of his trying to strengthen his own authority.

KIEV, Dec. 24 – The cabinet has decided to peg the price of Ukrainian oil sold at auctions to the customs price of Russian oil imported to the country, the head of the state committee for regulatory policy and entrepreneurship, Oleksandra Kuzhel, told journalists.

KIEV, Dec. 24 – The government on Thursday unlocked financing for the presidential election following repeated complaints from the Central Election Commission and a warning from President Viktor Yushchenko.