KIEV, March 23 – President Viktor Yanukovych will be sending Prime Minister Mykola Azarov to Moscow on Thursday to bolster his case for lower natural gas prices following the first day of talks with Russia.

BRUSSELS, March 23 - Ukraine agreed to clean up corruption in its gas export industry in return for Western investment in a deal with the EU on Monday that sparked a sharp warning from Russia, a newswire reported.

KIEV, March 23 - The cash gap of the general fund in the middle of March fell to UAH 1.4-1.7 billion compared to UAH 7.7 billion as of early 2009 and UAH 6 billion as of early March 2009, according to data from the State Treasury of Ukraine issued on March 20.

VILNIUS, March 21 - Nine ex-Communist NATO members, plus Canada, have urged the rest of the Atlantic alliance to overcome splits and open the door to Ukraine and Georgia at its April summit, AFP reported.

HONG KONG, March 23 - Eighteen Ukrainian sailors were trapped underwater Sunday in their capsized tugboat after it collided with a cargo ship in Hong Kong waters.

KIEV, March 23 ??“ Ukraine will seek to dramatically reduce dependence on imported energy resources within the next 25 years by developing domestic coal mining and nuclear power sectors, President Viktor Yushchenko said Thursday.

WASHINGTON, March 23 ??“ President George W. Bush on Thursday signed legislation to open up trade with Ukraine, saying it marked the beginning of a new era in U.S. relations with the country, Reuters reported.

KIEV, March 23 ??“ President Viktor Yushchenko said Thursday his party, Our Ukraine, will probably play a key role in a future government coalition that will be formed after general election March 26.

KIEV, March 23 ??“ The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank may allocate up to $800 million annually to finance Ukrainian infrastructure projects, a newswire reported citing an EBRD official.

KIEV, March 23 ??“ Ukraine has been mulling construction of a $275 million railway line that would bypass Moldova on the way of sending exports to other European countries, Transportation Minister Viktor Bondar said.