KYIV, Dec 20 – IMF Resident Representative in Ukraine Goesta Ljungman has discussed with a group of MPs the importance of creating an independent anti-corruption court in Ukraine for further cooperation with the fund, according to Bloc of Petro Poroshenko MP Svitlana Zalischuk.

KYIV, Dec 21 – The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) said that risks that real GDP growth in 2017 could be slightly lower than 2.2% (the forecast made by the central bank in October 2017) have increased.

KYIV, Dec. 21 - Ukraine's security agency has arrested a senior government translator and accused him of being a Russian spy, BBC reported Thursday.

KIEV, Dec. 21 – Ukraine will receive vise-free status in the European Union within several weeks, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 - Millions of dollars' worth of U.S.-supplied drones that Kiev had hoped would help in its war against Russian-backed separatists have proven ineffective against jamming and hacking, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing Ukrainian officials.

KIEV, Dec. 20 – Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has noted the importance of the decision by the European Commission to provide EUR 104 million as financial assistance to Ukraine, as well as the signing of a memorandum and a number of cooperation agreements with the European Investment Bank.

KIEV, Dec. 21 – Parliament has passed bill No. 5132 amending the Tax Code to provide for the balance of budget revenue in 2017. The document envisages the increase of alcohol and tobacco excise duties, deposit use and radio frequency spectrum royalties. The adoption of the bill was required for approving the 2017 national budget.

KIEV, Dec. 21 – The Finance Ministry said it drew up the draft amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine itself, although the ministry used consultations by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) international consulting company, the services of which were paid by the British government.

KIEV, Dec. 21 – Ukraine should enter the new year with a budget that meets the criteria determined in cooperation with the International Monetary Fund, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk said.

MOSCOW, Dec. 21 - Russia will introduce a food embargo against Ukraine next month over Kiev's trade deal with the EU, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Monday, extending punitive measures already in place against Western countries, AFP reported.