KIEV, May 21 – The International Monetary Fund doubts the Ukrainian government can hit its national budget revenue collection target, Deputy Prime Minister Sergiy Tyhypko said at a meeting of members of the Council of Entrepreneurs in Kyiv on Friday.

KIEV, May 21 - Foreign Minister Kostiantyn Hryshchenko on Friday assured lawmakers that the government will not agree to merge assets of Naftogaz Ukrayiny and Gazprom of Russia.

KIEV, May 24 – President Viktor Yanukovych said he plans to hold a meeting with opposition groups within days to see if legislation can be approved that would allow scheduling of local elections in the fall.

KHABAROVSK, May 22 - Russia cannot provide guarantees to Europe that there will not be any more gas stoppages through the fault of Ukraine in the future, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said.

KIEV, May 22 – The Ukrainian Finance Ministry does not see the reasons for the revision of the national budget for 2009 in the near future, although the ministry proposes to amend the document in July, according to the acting finance minister, Ihor Umansky.

KIEV, May 22 - A top Naftogaz Ukrayiny official resigned on Friday in the latest reshuffle as the national oil and gas company faces mounting financial challenges, a source at the company said.

KIEV, May 22 - Ukraine assured the European Union on Friday that it has the technical capability to secure safe transit of Russian natural gas via its pipelines to Europe without any disruptions.

KIEV, May 22 – The release of a $3 billion loan to Ukraine from the International Monetary Fund may be in jeopardy due to the government’s attempts to conceal vital economic data, President Viktor Yushchenko’s office warned Friday.

KIEV, May 24 ??“ The pro-Russian government coalition has been sending thousands of supporters from the Donetsk region for a rally in downtown Kiev on Friday, a government official said Thursday.

KIEV, May 24 ??“ President Viktor Yushchenko on Thursday canceled his trip to the Czech Republic that was due Friday after domestic political crisis had escalated sharply causing clashes with pro-Russian government coalition.