KYIV, Dec 21 – The number of detected cases of COVID-19 in Ukraine has been declining for the third week in a row, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said during a press briefing in Kyiv on Monday.

"Over the past week, 70,327 cases of morbidity have been identified, over the previous week – 78,712. For the third week in a row, we observe a decrease in the number of detected cases," he said.

KYIV, Dec 21 – The State Budget of Ukraine for 2021 provides for an increase in funding for medicine, education and science, as well as the security and defense sector, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

KYIV, Dec 21 – Some 48% of Ukrainians believe that Ukraine should move towards joining the European Union, 13% are supporters of integration into the Eurasian Economic Union with the Russian Federation, Belarus and Kazakhstan, and 30% do not want to join any of the unions, according to the survey conducted by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation and released on Monday.

KYIV, Dec 21 – The European Union and the Energy Community may agree with Ukraine's gradual, extended over 15-20 years, approaching the European level of carbon prices and its integration into the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS), but Ukraine should start this process as soon as possible, Director of the Energy Community Secretariat Janez Kopac.

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.