KIEV, Jan. 23 ??“ The Rating and Investment Information of Japan (R&I) has upgraded the rating of Ukraine's debt liabilities in foreign currency to "BB" from "BB-", the Ukrainian Finance Ministry reported on its official Web site on Tuesday.

KIEV, Jan. 24 - UkrTelekom, Ukraine's national phone company, said it will invest $700 mln, seeking to win a third of the country??™s cell phone market by 2010, the company's deputy chief executive Igor Syrotenko said.

KIEV, Jan. 24 ??“ Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov on Tuesday urged Ukraine??™s industrial sector to reduce natural gas consumption by at least 15% to secure steady deliveries of Russian gas to European consumers.

KIEV, Jan. 24 ??“ President Viktor Yushchenko??™s group, Our Ukraine, on Tuesday attacked its main rival at the upcoming general election by bringing up an issue of jail sentences apparently served by former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.

KIEV, Jan. 24 ??“ Ukraine??™s industrial output will probably increase between 2% and 3% on the year in the first quarter, the same as in 2005, the Economy Ministry said in a report released Tuesday.

KIEV, Jan. 24 - Sweden is ready to help Ukraine conserve energy, Swedish Premier Goran Persson said on Monday.

KIEV, Jan. 24 - The Ukrainian government plans to complete bilateral talks on entry to the World Trade Organization with WTO member countries, including the United States and Australia, in February, Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov said.

KIEV, Jan. 23 ??“ The European Commission is apparently showing no signs of backing down from its war of words with European Parliament over the treatment of Ukraine now that democratic opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko has become the country??™s president.

BRUSSELS, Jan. 23 ??“ President Viktor Yushchenko will tell his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin Monday that joining a political and economic bloc with Russia makes no sense for Ukraine, Yushchenko??™s close ally said Sunday.

KIEV, Jan. 23 ??“ President Viktor Yushchenko said Sunday he and his government will work hard to make sure Ukraine joins the European Union, adding that recent democratic changes here would speed up the process.