KIEV, Dec. 23 – President Viktor Yushchenko said Tuesday that a grand coalition, involving lawmakers from all political groups except the Communist Party, would be the best response to the escalating economic crisis.

KIEV, Dec. 23 – Ukraine’s local currency, the hryvnia, which has been experiencing the worst speculative attack in its 13-year history, will stabilize against the U.S. dollar within the next seven days, President Viktor Yushchenko said Tuesday.

KIEV, Dec. 23 – Ukraine may face new economic challenges, including difficulties in paying foreign debt, with the approval of the 2009 budget draft proposed by Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, President Viktor Yushchenko warned Tuesday.

MOSCOW/KIEV, Dec. 22 – The level of risk compensation on Ukraine's debt is fourth in the world after Ecuador, Argentina and Venezuela, according to credit default swap quotations cited by the Bloomberg agency.

KIEV, Dec. 23 - NATO has extended the lease of Ukrainian and Russian Antonov An-124-100 Ruslan heavy transportation aircraft with a weight-lift capacity of 120 tons under NATO's Strategic Airlift Interim Solution (SALIS) program in the interests of 18 NATO and EU countries.

KIEV, Dec. 20 – Stock market investors hope for more transparent privatization processes and passage of laws protecting investor rights with the appointment of Yulia Tymoshenko as prime minister, according to analysts polled by Interfax-Ukraine.

KIEV, Dec. 21 - The signing of a new, enhanced agreement with the European Union is a priority for Ukraine in its relations with the EU, said Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ohryzko.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 - The United States will keep a close eye on Ukraine's rerun of its disputed presidential runoff election on Sunday, as Washington silently wishes for a victory of Western-leaning candidate Viktor Yushchenko, Agence France-Press reported Wednesday.

KIEV, Dec. 22 ??“ Viktor Medvedchuk, a man who is thought to be the architect of the ongoing political crisis in Ukraine, continues to maintain the strongest influence on President Leonid Kuchma, Kuchma??™s former spokesman said Wednesday.

KIEV, Dec. 22 ??“ Tens of thousands of opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko??™s supporters flocked to downtown Kiev Wednesday night demanding a fair and free rerun of the presidential election on Sunday.